The government’s decision to drop honorifics such as “Excellency” and “Honourable” from official communications is commendable and a step towards making public service more grounded and representative of the people it is meant to serve.
The directive, which applies to the president, prime minister, ministers, state ministers, and deputy ministers, is effective immediately across government offices.
Titles and formalities have had their place in official settings, but excessive deference can sometimes reinforce an unnecessary distance between those who govern and those who are governed.
Public office is a responsibility, not a position that should require elaborate displays of reverence, and removing such honorifics sends a useful symbolic message: Those who hold office are, ultimately, servants of the state and its people.
This is particularly important as Bangladesh continues to work towards strengthening institutions and building greater public trust.
A culture of accountability begins with recognizing that authority comes with obligations. Officials must be accessible, responsive, and answerable for their decisions, rather than being placed on a pedestal through language and ceremony.
Of course, changing forms of address alone will not transform the culture of governance. The significance of this decision will depend on whether it is accompanied by meaningful changes in how public institutions operate.
Respect for citizens must be reflected in efficient services, transparency, responsible decision-making, and accountability at every level of government.
It is, therefore, important that this commendable move does not remain merely symbolic. The same spirit should inform wider administrative reforms, ensuring that public servants remember the purpose of the positions they hold.
A government exists to serve its citizens, and the language used by its institutions should reflect that principle. Moving away from unnecessary honorifics is a small but welcome step towards a more modest, accessible, and people-centred culture of governance.
We hope it will be followed by actions that make public service worthy of the trust placed in it.
