Government Revokes Use of ‘Sir’ for Female Officials

Interim government has officially revoked a controversial protocol that required female officials to be addressed as “sir”—a practice described as a relic of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s administration.

The interim government, led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus, issued a statement on Thursday evening announcing the decision. The government took office following the ousting of Sheikh Hasina in a student-led uprising last year, which forced the long-time leader to flee to neighboring India.

According to the official statement, the directive mandating the use of “sir” for women in official roles has now been “annulled.”

“During Sheikh Hasina’s nearly 16-year rule, a directive was reportedly issued requiring public officials to address her as ‘sir’. This protocol later extended to senior female officials, which is clearly an odd and outdated practice,” the statement read.

A committee has also been formed to review and amend additional bureaucratic protocols that originated under Hasina’s administration.

However, not everyone welcomed the change. Speaking anonymously to AFP, one senior female official expressed concerns over the lack of consultation with women in public service. “The tradition began during Hasina’s rule, but many women officers supported it, considering it a gender-neutral form of address,” she said.

Sheikh Hasina, now 77, remains in exile and faces several charges at Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal. The tribunal is investigating her alleged role in violent crackdowns during the 2024 protests that led to her fall from power. The UN reports that up to 1,400 people were killed in clashes between July and August of that year.

Hasina has denied all allegations. Her political party, the Awami League, has dismissed the charges and labeled the tribunal a “kangaroo court,” accusing the current administration of politically motivated prosecutions.

As Bangladesh continues to navigate this transitional political period, the decision to end the “sir” protocol is seen as symbolic of the caretaker government’s broader efforts to dismantle remnants of the former regime.