Published: 11:40 PM, 09 September 2026
Order issued to drop honorifics before ministers' names
The Ministry of Public Administration has issued an order instructing government officials and offices not to use honorific salutations before the names of President, Prime Minister, ministers and state ministers in written communications. The directive was issued through a circular on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, signed by Deputy Secretary Tania Afroz. The circular states that the instruction will take effect immediately.
According to the order, official letters, documents, and other written communications should no longer include honorific forms of address before the names of ministers and state ministers. Instead, their names and official designations are to be used in accordance with the prescribed format.
The ministry issued the directive as part of its effort to maintain uniformity and consistency in official government correspondence. The instruction is expected to apply to relevant written communications prepared and issued by government offices and officials.
The circular emphasizes that the new practice should be followed with immediate effect. Government offices have therefore been instructed to ensure that future correspondence complies with the directive.
The move is likely to bring a change to the traditional style of addressing senior political officeholders in official documents. Honorific expressions have commonly been used in formal correspondence in Bangladesh as a mark of respect and courtesy.
The latest order, however, focuses on maintaining an official and standardized format rather than using additional salutations before the names of ministers and state ministers.
The Ministry of Public Administration is responsible for establishing and communicating various administrative procedures across the government. The latest directive underscores the ministry's role in ensuring consistency in official communication and documentation.
