Every year a huge number of jobseekers take part in BCS exams to realise their dream to become a first-class government officer. A candidate has to go through three phases of examination: preliminary, written, and viva voce. However, a newspaper recently reported that an influential Awami League leader tried to influence the process by writing a letter to the public administration minister, recommending a candidate.

While the leader later argued that such a recommendation might not be necessarily effective, the practice of recommendation is itself unethical. BCS officers are expected to maintain a high ethical standard in their professional life. I would urge the BPSC authorities to introduce a condition that any recommendation, political or not, would disqualify the candidate.