"They lectured me on morality."
National Award-winning actress Azmeri Haque Badhon has spoken out strongly after a controversial dress code directive from the Bangladesh Bank was withdrawn.
The regulation, which banned sleeveless tops, short dresses, and leggings for female employees, sparked immediate criticism across social media platforms.
Many accused the bank of reinforcing gendered restrictions that unfairly target women under the guise of professionalism and modesty.
The backlash grew rapidly, prompting Bangladesh Bank to quietly withdraw the directive on the same day it became public knowledge.
Azmeri Haque Badhon addressed the issue on Facebook, recounting her personal journey with societal expectations surrounding women’s clothing and behaviour.
She wrote: “I was once a brilliant, kind little girl who always dressed as expected; what my parents preferred, what the community deemed ‘decent’.”
She shared that as a teenager, she avoided jeans because society judged girls who wore them.
Badhon described a turning point in 2006 when she left an abusive marriage and entered the Lux Channel i Superstar competition.
She said in her post: “That experience helped me discover myself; not just as a woman, but as a human being.”
Despite beginning to claim her independence, Badhon still tried to fit the image of a “good woman” approved by society.
She added: “But this time, I wore jeans, I wore clothes that showed my skin, things ‘good girls’ supposedly don’t wear.”
She also recalled being asked to cover her shoulders during a TV interview because her blouse was sleeveless.
“They lectured me on morality.”
The actress added that over the years, people dictated how she should dress as a mother and public figure.
“But I don’t care anymore. I am free. No one has the right to tell me what to wear, say, think, or how to live.”
Her statement quickly resonated with followers, as many praised her honesty and applauded her call for bodily autonomy.
Azmeri Haque Badhon ended her post with a powerful note on gender politics and societal hypocrisy.
“This is the harsh reality we face daily. Society seems obsessed with ‘fixing’ women as if that’s the ultimate virtue.”
“But let me say this: it is your own actions that determine your path, not your control over others, and certainly not over women.”
While Bangladesh Bank has withdrawn the dress code, it has reignited ongoing discussions about personal freedom, professionalism, and institutional gender bias.
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