Dhaka: In a reversal of Sheikh Hasina-era protocol, Bangladesh's interim government led by Muhammad Yunus has officially annulled a contentious directive that required female government officials to be addressed as "Sir", a practice that was started under the former prime Minister's nearly 16-year rule.
The decision was announced after the 33rd meeting of the Council of Advisors on Thursday, July 10, as per a report by local publication Prothom Alo.
The protocol, which was originally meant for addressing Hasina herself, had gradually seeped into broader governement communication, applying to other senior women officers across departments. The interim government has now labelled the usage "clearly abnormal' and signalled its intent to restore institutional balance and rationality in state conduct.
Protocol Review Begins With Two-Member Committee
The Council of Advisors confirmed the formation of a two-member committee, comprising of advisors Fouzul Kabir Khan and Syeda Rizwana Hasan, to review the protocol orders issued during Hasina's regime.
As per a statement from the Chief Advisor's press wing accessed by Prothom Alo, the aim is to "do away with such directions" and distance current governance from the "personalised culture of power" entrenched during Hasina's time.
This revocation also marks part of a wider overhaul of ceremonial and administrative practices that the interim regime has described as authoritarian in tone. The committee will be expected to submit its recommendations within a month.
Yunus Criticised for Silence on Islamist Attacks Targeting Girls’ Sports
While the interim administration, led by Yunus, has been quick enough to revise the gendered state protocols, women's rights activists say his silence on rising Islamist threats is both glaring and alarming. In January 2025, hardline groups, led by madrassa students, forced the cancellation of girls’ football matches in Joypurhat and Dinajpur, vandalising venues and clashing with counter-protesters.
Though local officials later resumed the matches under instruction and the Bangladesh Football Federation condemned the attacks, Yunus reportedly refrained from addressing the incidents directly. Activists argued that his selective criticism, focusing heavily on Hasina’s regime while avoiding condemnation of extremist violence, raises serious concerns about his stance on women’s rights.
