47th BCS
Love Story Ends in Shared BCS Success
Bangladesh Agricultural University student couple Sahaj Uddin Badal and Jerin Akter Swarna. Photo: Collected.
What began as a friendship at university eventually turned into love, marriage, and now a shared professional milestone.
In the final results of the 47th Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) examination, Bangladesh Agricultural University graduates Sahaj Uddin Badal and Jerin Akter Swarna have both been recommended for appointment as Agricultural Marketing Officers (Assistant Directors).
The couple studied in the 2016-17 academic session under the Faculty of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology at Bangladesh Agricultural University. Classmates in the same faculty and batch, they shared the same dream—and now the same BCS cadre.
Their success has been widely celebrated on campus, with teachers, classmates, family members, and well-wishers congratulating the couple. But they say the journey was far from easy, marked by setbacks, uncertainty, and years of perseverance.
Alongside their academic studies, they consistently prepared for the highly competitive BCS examination, helping each other study, correcting mistakes, and offering encouragement through difficult times.
“Alhamdulillah. First and foremost, I thank Almighty Allah,” Badal said.
He recalled that their friendship began in 2017 during their university years.
“We created countless memories together. Over time, we realized we complemented each other, and with the consent of both families, we decided to get married,” he said.
Badal said he first applied for the 44th BCS but began preparing seriously for the 45th BCS examination. He failed the preliminary test on his first attempt but refused to give up.
“In the 46th BCS, I passed the preliminary exam, but Swarna did not. That failure taught us to work even harder. We realized there is no shortcut to success,” he said.
Besides the BCS, both also sat for other government recruitment exams. Recently, Badal was recommended for the position of Officer (General) at Sonali Bank, while Swarna was recommended as an assistant teacher at a government primary school. They said those achievements boosted their confidence.
“This success is not mine alone. My family and especially my husband played a huge role behind it,” Swarna said.
“I failed many times, but I never lost hope. During every difficult moment, he stood by me, encouraged me, and helped restore my confidence,” she added.
The couple said the university's central library was their favorite place to study, where they spent countless hours preparing together and supporting one another.
Looking ahead, they believe patience, perseverance, and mutual encouragement are essential for success in competitive examinations like the BCS.
“By the grace of Almighty Allah, we are now both BCS cadres. We seek everyone's prayers so that we can serve the country with honesty, dedication, and professionalism throughout our careers,” they said.
