No more 'sir' for women officials in Bangladesh

AFP | Dhaka

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Bangladesh's caretaker government has overturned a long-standing protocol requiring women officials to be addressed as "sir", calling it an "odd" relic of ousted leader Sheikh Hasina's regime.

The interim administration, headed by Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus, took office last year.

A statement issued by the press wing of the caretaker government late Thursday said the directive mandating the use of "sir" for women in official roles had been "annulled".

"During Sheikh Hasina's nearly 16-year-long autocratic rule, a directive was reportedly issued requiring public officials to address her as 'sir'," it said.

"This practice extended to other high-ranking women officials, who were -- and still are -- being called 'sir', which is clearly odd."