The interim government of Bangladesh has officially withdrawn a longstanding directive that required female government officials — including former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina — to be addressed as “Sir.” The decision was made during a meeting of the Advisory Council, which criticised the previous practice as socially and institutionally inappropriate. An official statement acknowledged that the unusual form of address had persisted even after Hasina’s departure, and called for a return to respectful and gender-appropriate language in official settings.
A formal notice from the Office of the Chief Adviser confirmed the rule’s cancellation and announced the formation of a review committee to develop new guidelines for official titles and forms of address. The committee will be led by Syeda Rizwana Hasan, an adviser on energy, infrastructure, and environmental issues. It has been tasked with presenting its recommendations within one month.
In addition to scrapping the “Sir” directive, the Advisory Council also called for a broader review of outdated bureaucratic protocols. The newly formed committee will examine other aspects of official etiquette and propose reforms aimed at ensuring that language used in government reflects current societal values and norms.
