Govt cancels directive to address female officials as 'Sir'

The Advisory Council of the interim government has officially scrapped the contentious directive requiring female government officials to be addressed as "Sir."

The decision was finalised during a council meeting held on Thursday (July 10).

A notification from the Office of the Chief Adviser confirmed the cancellation and announced the formation of a review committee tasked with revising official honorifics and protocols.

The committee, chaired by Syeda Rizwana Hasan, adviser on Energy, Roads and Railways, and Environment and Water Resources, has been instructed to submit its recommendations within a month.

The notification criticized the directive, stating: "During Sheikh Hasina's nearly 16-year tenure, a directive was issued instructing officials to address her as 'Sir.' This practice was later extended to other top female officials. Even today, female officials are often still addressed as 'Sir' — a practice that is socially and institutionally inappropriate and undesirable."

The use of the male honorific for women in senior positions has long been a source of public criticism and internal discomfort across government institutions. Officials, employees, and even journalists have reported feeling compelled to follow the directive, with some facing discourtesy or pressure for using gender-appropriate titles.