Four major student unions—DUCSU, RUCSU, CUCSU, and JUCSU—have jointly called for ensuring merit-based recruitment in all government jobs and an end to alleged harassment under the guise of police verification. In a joint statement issued on Tuesday, the unions expressed deep concern over the exclusion of 13 candidates from the final gazette of the 17th Bangladesh Judicial Service (BJS) despite being recommended by the commission. The statement emphasized that these candidates had proven their merit through rigorous competition and should not be deprived of employment without evidence of criminal charges. The unions urged the Ministry of Law, the Judicial Service Commission, and the Public Service Commission to revise the gazette if no criminal proof is found, to make merit and qualification the sole criteria for recruitment, and to ensure transparency and fairness in the verification process. They also demanded that excluded candidates be given the opportunity to respond to allegations before any final decision is made.