HC Petition Seeks Postponement of 50th BCS Preliminary Exam

A writ petition has been filed in the High Court seeking a stay on the preliminary examination of the 50th Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS), which is scheduled to take place this coming Friday. Advocate Nazmus Sakib, the lawyer representing the petitioners, confirmed the filing of the writ on Wednesday morning.

The petition comes just two days before the examination date. While the specific legal grounds for the stay request have not been fully disclosed, it follows recent demands from a section of job seekers who had urged for a postponement citing the upcoming national election and referendum.

The Scheduled Timeline

According to the Public Service Commission (PSC), the 50th BCS preliminary exam is slated for January 30, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM. The commission has already completed major preparations:

• Total Candidates: 290,951 applicants.

• Total Vacancies: 2,150 (1,755 cadre and 395 non-cadre posts).

• Centers: Eight divisional cities across the country.

PSC's Stance and Previous Challenges

Prior to this legal move, the PSC had firmly maintained that there would be no deferment. Public Relations Officer Matiur Rahman had recently stated that all preparations were final and the exam would proceed according to the roadmap to ensure the "One BCS, One Year" goal.

A group identifying themselves as "July Fighters" had previously submitted a memorandum to the Chief Election Commissioner, asking for a suspension of all government recruitment tests between January 21 and February 12 to facilitate election campaigning. However, the PSC had dismissed those demands until this writ was filed.

Impact on Candidates

The High Court is expected to hear the petition shortly. If a stay order is granted, it could disrupt the PSC's roadmap, which currently targets publishing results by February 10 and starting written exams in April. For now, candidates are advised to continue their preparations unless an official stay order is issued by the court.