The Bangladesh Bank has officially withdrawn a recent internal dress code guideline for its employees following strong public criticism and direct instructions from Governor Ahsan H Mansur.
The guideline, issued on 21 July by the Human Resources Department-2, advised employees to wear “professional and elegant” attire during office hours. However, it sparked widespread debate, particularly due to its specific recommendations for female staff members.
In a formal statement released on the morning of 24 July, Arif Hossain, Executive Director and spokesperson for the central bank,
“Considering the social context of all levels of officers and employees working in Bangladesh Bank, a decision was taken in the discussion of the respective departmental meetings to advise them to wear professional and elegant clothes during office hours.”
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The situation gained media attention, prompting the governor’s response and give a statement that,
“When this internal matter came to the notice of the governor, who is abroad, through the media, he expressed his displeasure, and as per his instructions, the matter has been withdrawn at this time.”
The now-withdrawn directive suggested that female employees wear sarees, salwar-kameez with dupattas, or other modest and professional attire. It discouraged short-sleeved or short-length dresses and leggings. It also stated that women could wear formal shoes or sandals and had the option to wear plain headscarves or hijabs, though not mandatory.
Male employees, on the other hand, were instructed to avoid jeans and gabardine and to opt for full or half-sleeved formal shirts paired with formal pants. The guideline mentioned that violations of this dress code could be considered disciplinary breaches.
When contacted by The Business Standard early on 24 July, Governor Mansur expressed surprise at the issue,
“I’m surprised to see the news. I am currently out of the country and will certainly look into the issue shortly.”
Later, spokesperson Arif Hossain explained the rationale behind the directive,
“The idea is to ensure equality and unity in dress within the institution and avoid any psychological discomfort. “
He again said,
“Moreover, modest clothing is mandatory for both male and female employees in any professional environment.”
He added that,
“For female employees, the directive advises avoiding short-sleeved or short-length dresses and leggings. However, no one has been required or forced to wear a hijab.”
When asked whether any employee had previously worn inappropriate attire, Hossain responded:
“No, no one did.”
Explaining the motivation behind the guideline, he said,
“Now, each batch entering the Bangladesh Bank includes 200-250 young recruits who have just graduated from universities. Some of them still exhibit behavior typical of university life. So, this circular was issued to promote bonding among officers of all levels, both junior and senior.”
Source: TBS
