Bangladesh’s interim administration has officially scrapped a long-standing directive that required women in official positions to be addressed as “sir,” describing the policy as an unusual remnant of the previous government led by Sheikh Hasina.
The current caretaker government, led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus, came into power last year following the ousting of former Prime Minister Hasina through a student-led protest movement, which eventually forced her into exile in neighboring India.
In a press release issued late Thursday by the administration’s media wing, officials confirmed the withdrawal of the salutation mandate. The directive, which had applied to women in public service roles, has now been nullified.
“During Sheikh Hasina’s nearly 16-year-long autocratic rule, a directive was reportedly issued requiring public officials to address her as ‘sir’,” the statement noted.
“This practice extended to other high-ranking women officials, who were – and still are – being called ‘sir’, which is clearly odd.”
The announcement also revealed the formation of a new committee tasked with reviewing and updating additional protocol-related guidelines.
Reacting to the development, a female civil servant who spoke to AFP on the condition of anonymity said that the decision was made without consulting female officials.
“The tradition began during Sheikh Hasina’s tenure, but many women officers supported it, finding the address gender-neutral,” she stated.
Meanwhile, Hasina, now 77, has refused to return to Dhaka and is currently facing multiple charges at Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal. These charges relate to alleged crimes committed during the violent suppression of demonstrations that ultimately led to her removal from office.
According to United Nations estimates, the protests, which occurred between July and August 2024, resulted in as many as 1,400 deaths.
Prosecutors allege that Hasina bore overall command responsibility for the crackdown and its aftermath.
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