The Council of Advisers on Thursday officially annulled a controversial directive from the previous regime that required public officials to address former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as “Sir”—a practice that had extended to other high-ranking female officials as well.
The directive, widely criticized as a symbol of authoritarian excess and protocol distortion, had been in effect throughout Sheikh Hasina’s nearly 16-year-long rule. While its origin was never formally disclosed, its enforcement across ministries and departments became an open secret. Even senior civil servants were reportedly instructed to use the term “Sir” instead of “Madam,” regardless of the officeholder’s gender.
The Council of Advisers, in its meeting on Thursday, not only overturned this directive but also agreed on the need to re-evaluate a broader set of protocol and honorific rules introduced by the previous cabinet.
To carry this out, a review committee has been formed, chaired by Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan, who oversees Energy, Road and Railway, and Environment and Water Resources. The committee has been tasked with reviewing existing protocol regulations and honorific practices. It will submit its recommendations within one month for the Council’s consideration.
“The use of honorifics should reflect both respect and logic,” said a spokesperson from the Cabinet Division. “This move is part of broader efforts to deconstruct remnants of authoritarianism and restore professionalism in public service.”
The decision has been widely welcomed on social media, with many users calling it a “symbolic yet necessary correction.”
While the change marks a break from a peculiar legacy of the past regime, officials say it also signals the new administration’s intent to foster institutional dignity grounded in democratic norms and gender respect.