
The central bank has set dress codes for officials and employees at all levels. Female officers and employees have been instructed to wear saris, salwar-kameez and dupattas, or other professional and modest attire.
Additionally, they have been advised to refrain from wearing short sleeves, short-length dresses, and leggings.
This office directive was issued on Monday (July 21) by Human Resources Division-2 of Bangladesh Bank.
According to the directive, certain decisions were made for regular inclusion in the agenda and minutes of a divisional monthly meeting of Bangladesh Bank's Human Resources Division-2 (Benefits and Administration Wing). One of these decisions concerned dress code.
Decision number 11 (d) states that all officers and employees of Bangladesh Bank (excluding those in classes C and D who have specific uniforms) must wear professional and modest attire, considering the social context. For male officers and employees, this means formal shirts (long or half sleeves), formal pants, and formal shoes. Jeans and gabardine pants should be avoided.
For female officers and employees, the directive specifies that saris, salwar-kameez and dupattas, and other professional modest attire must be simple and in professional colors. Formal sandals or shoes, and simple headscarves or hijabs are permitted. Short-sleeved and short-length dresses, and leggings must be avoided.
There are three more directives under serial number 11. Number 11 (a) instructs adherence to the guidelines described in Section 39 of the Bangladesh Bank Staff Regulation 2003 regarding the treatment of female employees. Complaints related to sexual harassment must be sent within 30 working days of the incident to the committee formed through a specific circular from Human Resources Division-1.
Number 11 (b) advises strict adherence to the office directive from Human Resources Division-2 concerning the use of social media.
Number 11 (c) emphasizes observing official etiquette and codes of conduct to foster a positive work environment, including integrity, ethics, punctuality, discipline, diligence in performing assigned duties, respectful behavior towards colleagues, and sincere cordial relations (mutual respect, courtesy, cooperative attitude, etc.).
Decision number 12 states that for the implementation of the directives given in serial number 11, an officer must be nominated to observe compliance at the office, division, project, cell, and unit level. The nominated officer will monitor whether these directives are being properly followed. Any deviation should be reported to the departmental head, and a complaint regarding the non-compliance and disciplinary breach will be lodged against the relevant officer or employee.
Regarding this matter, Arif Hossain Khan, Executive Director and Spokesperson for Bangladesh Bank, informed the media in a message at around 12:45 AM on Wednesday (July 23) that due to age differences among various officers and employees working at Bangladesh Bank, there is diversity in clothing observed among both male and female colleagues.
To eliminate mental discrimination between female-female and male-male colleagues arising from these differences in dress style, and to strengthen mutual understanding, the circular regarding office attire has been issued.
However, he stated that this is an advisory circular and clarified that there are no restrictions or directives imposed on female colleagues regarding wearing burqas or hijabs. He added that the circular discourages overly ornate clothing and hopes that it will not curtail anyone's freedom to dress in the office.




