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Published : 25 May 2026, 03:20 PM
Bangladesh Betar has scrapped a contentious directive that mandated a strict dress code for news presenters during Facebook Live broadcasts.
The reversal was formalised in an official order signed by its Director General ASM Zahid on Sunday.
Additional Director General (News) Md Shariful Quader said the order had been withdrawn due to "certain linguistic issues”.
"We will sit with senior management and issue a proper dress code again, so that it raises no further questions," he added.
When asked about the sudden shift in stance, Quader pointed to the severe criticism of the order’s wording.
He defended the original intent by noting that as an audio medium, facial appearance normally remains irrelevant, but live Facebook streaming brings presenters directly into the public eye, necessitating a degree of sartorial care.
"Some people even turn up in T-shirts. There was quite a bit of internal criticism about this. The order was issued in haste to flag the issue, without much thought about what looks good or bad. There was no other motive," he said, adding a clearer dress code would be issued soon.
The state broadcaster drew widespread public ire following a May 4 order signed by Deputy Director General (News) Tania Nazneen, directing female presenters to wear simple full-sleeve Salwar Kameez or Sarees, while discouraging large Teep, a traditional forehead adornment.
The order also prescribed the "appropriate" way to drape the mandatory scarf, barring presenters from wearing it over one shoulder only.
For male presenters, the guideline required full-sleeve shirts with ties, allowing Panjabi during festivals, while T-shirts and casual T-shirts were prohibited.
