Barisal probation officer sets rare example addressing service seekers as sir
DOT Desk: Amid a furore over addressing government officials as sir, one officer in Barisal has set a rare and impressive example calling those who come to his office seeking services sir, reports Dhaka Tribune.Sajjad Parvez, district probation officer at the social services department’s Barisal office, also keeps a message on his table that reads: “What can I do for you, sir?”, instead of his nameplate. He respectfully addresses all who come to the social services office, located in the office of the deputy commissioner, and has been doing so every day since 2018. Sajjad Parvez was selected as the best probation officer at the national level three times consecutively in 2016, 2017 and 2018. He also received the Jatiya Shuddhachar (integration) Award in 2019-20 and Barisal District Administration Medal in 2017. Sajjad Parvez said that he has experienced the most pleasant thing in this practice for the past five years: the service aspirants who did not get their expected service, they did not return disheartened after getting respect from the department. “They kept faith in me and trusted me,” said the officer. He started the practice of addressing service aspirants as sir after getting inspiration from the then director general of the Department of Social Services during his Barisal visit, said Sajjad. “Not only the poor marginal people will be honoured in this way, but addressing the common people who come here for service, they really become happy and this generates a positive impression about my office,” he said. “So in my office I have written, ‘What can I do for you, sir?’ on the table instead of my nameplate.” A college teacher in Gournadi, Dr Shahnaz Islam Rubi, said that he went to the office of Probation Officer Sajjad Parvez to help a child with cancer. He saw the printed board on his table.
Such a picture is not usually seen in the offices of any other officials and it is the opposite of government officials as they are used to hearing sir, instead of addressing common people as sir, said the college teacher. Another service recipient named Aminul Islam said that he applied for help from the social services office for his father’s treatment. “When I went to Sajjad Parvez’s room for some work, I was surprised to see him calling us sir.