'Clearly odd': Bangladesh interim government scraps Sheikh Hasina-era 'sir' rule for women officials; panel formed to set new titles

Bangladesh’s interim government on Thursday officially revoked a long-standing directive from the Sheikh Hasina administration that required public officials to address her and other senior women officials as “sir.” The order, in effect for nearly 16 years, was deemed ‘inappropriate’ by the Yunus- led government.

The decision was announced by chief adviser of the government of Bangladesh in a post on X, following a meeting of the advisory council in Dhaka. "During Sheikh Hasina's nearly 16-year-long autocratic rule, a directive was reportedly issued requiring public officials to address her as 'sir,'" the post read.


"This practice extended to other high-ranking women officials, who were and still are being called 'sir,' which is clearly odd," it added.

The rule had drawn criticism over the years for undermining gender norms and appearing out of touch with social conventions.

To establish a more respectful and culturally appropriate form of address for senior officials, the government has formed a review committee. The panel will be co-led by energy, road and railway adviser Dr M Fouzul Kabir Khan and environment and water resources adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan.

Alongside the cancellation of this directive, the interim government also discussed scrapping several other outdated protocol rules issued by the previous cabinet.