B'desh bank revokes 'modest' dressing code after backlash

Dhaka: Bangladesh's central bank Thursday revoked a new dress code directive, three days after its human resources department created a controversy by asking employees - especially women - to dress in "modest and professional" attire.

The HR department of the Bangladesh Bank had also warned that failing to comply with the order could lead to disciplinary action. "This instruction has been completely revoked," Bangladesh Bank spokesman Arief Hossain Khan said.

Khan said Bangladesh Bank governor Ahsan H Mansur , currently on a tour abroad, had ordered the directive to be withdrawn immediately as the issue came to his knowledge through media reports. Under the now-revoked order, women staff were asked to wear saree, salwar-kameez, or any other modest, professional-coloured outfit along with simple headscarves or hijab.