Dhaka: Prime Minister Tarique Rahman today began implementing the government's decision from his own office to drop 'Honourable' and other honorifics before his title in official documents and communications. The Prime Minister has also started using the digital attendance system at his office like other officials and employees.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the process of removing 'Honourable' before the Prime Minister's title from files, documents, and other official communications began at the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) this morning. Tarique Rahman attended office at the Secretariat this morning and marked his digital attendance before entering his office, a senior PMO official told BSS.
A Cabinet Division circular issued yesterday stated that 'Honourable', 'His Excellency', or any other honorific should not be used before the titles of the President, Prime Minister, ministers, state ministers, and deputy ministers in official communications, documents, and summaries. Officials confirmed that the Prime Minister had decided to implement the directive at his office, instructing officials to use only 'Prime Minister' instead of 'Honourable Prime Minister' in files and other documents submitted to him.
The move reflects the Prime Minister's approach to prioritizing public service and accountability over formal office descriptions. Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration Md Sakhawat Hossain told BSS that his ministry had already circulated the Cabinet Division's directive to all ministries, secretaries, divisional commissioners, deputy commissioners, and upazila nirbahi officers (UNOs).
'Implementation of the circular has started from today. There should be no deviation from the directive in official correspondence or important documents in future,' he said. He added that the directive had been communicated across the administration through official documents and digital platforms.
Joint Secretary of the Cabinet Division's District Magistracy Branch Tanvir Ahmed told BSS that the circular had already reached field-level administration offices across the country. 'We received a few letters today where implementation of the circular was visible,' he said, noting that the directive to drop honorifics before the President and Prime Minister's titles was being fully implemented from today. He mentioned that action would be taken if any office were found violating the directive.
The Prime Minister's adoption of the digital attendance system is part of a broader effort to adhere to regular office procedures. Since assuming office, he has introduced measures to reduce unnecessary protocol and personal prominence in government activities, such as restricting the use of his photographs in official publicity, reducing the number of vehicles in his motorcade, and avoiding traffic signal stoppages during his movement. He has also refrained from using a flag-bearing vehicle except at official state events both domestically and internationally.