Bangladesh Bank Withdraws Controversial Dress Code
The Bank of Bangladesh has reversed its recently introduced dress code that restricted female employees from wearing short-sleeved tops, short dresses, or leggings. Instead, the guidelines proposed wearing traditional headscarves and hijabs.
This decision came after Governor Ahsan H Mansour, who was overseas at the time the dress code was implemented on July 21 without his approval, instructed the retraction.
Mansour expressed his surprise at the unfolding situation during a conversation with Business Standard on July 24, stating he would investigate the matter upon returning.
Despite the backlash and scrutiny on social media that tarnished the image of the regulators, no action has been taken against those responsible for issuing the order.
The directive, authorized by Lieutenant Governor Zakir Hossain Choudhry, was crafted by the Central Bank’s Human Resources Department led by Nasima Sultana.
In response to the criticism, central bank spokesperson Arif Hossain released a statement. Initially, he claimed the guideline aimed to curb overly ostentatious office attire without mandating burkas or hijabs. However, he quickly revised this, removing references to the head coverings.
Many senior officials at the Bangladesh Bank voiced their astonishment over the dress code’s language targeting female staff.
Details of the Dress Code
The directive specified that female employees should wear sarees, dupattas, or salwal kameez along with other modest, professional outfits. Moreover, it advised against short sleeves and leggings.
While allowing formal footwear, female staff could choose to wear plain scarves or hijabs. Male employees were instructed to avoid jeans and gabardines, opting instead for formal shirts with long or half sleeves paired with formal pants. The statement warned that breaches of this dress code could be viewed as disciplinary violations.
Spokesman Hossain stated that the intention was to cultivate uniformity and cohesion in the workplace. He argued that such guidelines foster equality and minimize psychological discomfort stemming from clothing differences.
“While short sleeves and short dresses are discouraged for women, wearing a hijab is not compulsory,” he clarified. When pressed on whether any employees had worn inappropriate clothing prior to these measures, he denied it.
Regarding the necessity for the directive, Hossain mentioned that each new intake at the bank comprises around 200-250 recent graduates who may still exhibit behaviors from student life. This, he suggested, led to the creation of the circular to promote rapport among all staff levels.
After retracting the original dress code, he stated that each department meeting concluded employees should dress in a professional and sophisticated manner, considering the social dynamics of the entire staff. However, he confirmed no official policy changes were established based on this discussion.
