Order of precedence in Bangladesh

The order of precedence in Bangladesh, officially known as Warrant of Precedence, is a symbolic hierarchy that lays down the relative precedence in terms of ranks of important functionaries belonging to the executive, legislative and judicial organs of the state, including members of the foreign diplomatic corps. When a person holds more than one position, the highest position is considered. The Warrant of Precedence was challenged by a writ petition. On November 10, 2016, the Appellate Division of the Bangladesh Supreme Court issued a full judgment on the writ of Warrant of Precedence. ^[1] The Government filed a review petition, thought the Appellate Division did not stay the execution of the judgment. Cabinet division revised and published a new warrant of precedence in July 2020 which contradicts the judgement of the Supreme Court on Warrant of Precedence.^{[ citation needed ] [2]}

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Order

Order of Precedence of Bangladesh (Revised and Updated up to the latest amendment)

Rank	Position
1	President of the Republic (Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces) – Mohammed Shahabuddin
2	Vice President of the Republic – Not in position now Chief Adviser of the Advisory Council of the Republic (Prime Minister of the Republic) – Muhammad Yunus Leader of the Parliament
3	By Seniority: Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic – Not in position now Speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad – Vacant Chief Justice of the Republic – Syed Refaat Ahmed
4	Former Presidents of the Republic – Mohammad Abdul Hamid Jamiruddin Sircar Chairman, Bangladesh Law Commission – Former Appellate Division Justice Zinat Ara
5	Principal Advisers of the Advisory Council heading Key-Ministries of the Republic (Senior Ministers of the Cabinet of the Republic) Leader of the Opposition in the Parliament – Vacant
6	By Seniority: Advisers of the Advisory Council heading Ministries of the Republic (Cabinet Ministers of the Republic) Deputy Leader of the Parliament – Vacant Deputy Speaker of the Parliament – Vacant Chief Whip – Vacant
7	Ambassador-at-Large (deputed to Selected Countries only) – Not in position now Persons holding appointments accorded status of an Adviser (Minister) without being members of the Advisory Council (Cabinet of the Republic) Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary and High Commissioners of the Commonwealth countries accredited to Bangladesh Justice(s) of the Supreme Court (Appellate Division) Chairman of the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission – Jalal Ahmed Chairman of the Anti-Corruption Commission – Dr. Mohammad Abdul Momen Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission
8	Chief Election Commissioner – AMM Nasir Uddin Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission Deputy Leader of the Opposition in Parliament – Vacant Ministers of State of the Republic (Independent Charge) Justice(s) of the Supreme Court (High Court Division) Attorney-General – Md. Asaduzzaman Commissioners of the Anti-Corruption Commission Members of the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission Whip
9	Election Commissioners Comptroller and Auditor-General – S M Rezvi Ombudsman Executive Chairman, Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (if of the status of Minister of State) – Ashik Chowdhury Executive Chairman, Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (if of the status of Minister of State) – Ashik Chowdhury Persons holding appointments accorded status of a Minister of State Mayor(s), Dhaka City Corporation (within the jurisdiction of their respective corporation)
10	Deputy Ministers of the Republic (Independent Charge of Divisions)
11	Envoys Extraordinary and Ministers Plenipotentiary accredited to Bangladesh Persons holding appointments accorded status of a Deputy Minister District Administrators & Chairmen, District Councils (if elected) within their respective charges Mayor, Chittagong City Corporation (within the jurisdiction of their respective corporation)
12	Cabinet Secretary – Sheikh Abdur Rashid Chiefs of Staff of the Four-Star Rank of Full General and equivalent – Chief of Army Staff (Bangladesh Army) – General Waker-Uz-Zaman Chief of Naval Staff (Bangladesh Navy) – Admiral Mohammad Nazmul Hassan Chief of Air Staff (Bangladesh Air Force) – Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister & Chief Executive of the Chief Adviser's Office ( Prime Minister's Secretariat) – Md. Siraj Uddin Miah
13	By Seniority: Inspector General of Police (Head, Bangladesh Police Service & Chief Executive, Internal Security Affairs) – Baharul Alam Governor of Bangladesh Bank – Ahsan H. Mansur Foreign Secretary (Secretary General of Exterior & Chief Executive, External Affairs) Members of the Parliament
14	Visiting Ambassadors and High Commissioners not accredited to Bangladesh
15	Chairman of the Public Service Commission – Mobasser Monem Chairman of the National Board of Revenue (Revenue Policy Division and Revenue Management Division) & Finance Secretary – 1 (Senior Secretary, Internal Resources Division) Chairman, Bangladesh Accreditation Board High Commissioners in Selection Grade to the High Commissions of the People's Republic of Bangladesh Abroad Ambassadors in Selection Grade to the Embassies of the People's Republic of Bangladesh Abroad Registrar General of the Supreme Court Secretaries General (Chief Executive) to the Government in-charge of Joints of Multiple Inter-linked Ministries and Senior Secretaries to the Government in-charge of Key Ministries, Principal Government Bodies and Divisions Interior Secretary (Chief Executive, Internal Affairs) – Secretary General Concerned Joint Ministries – Ministry of Home Affairs Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief Ministry of Land Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Establishment Secretary (Chief Executive, Policy Implementation & Administrative Affairs) – Secretary General Concerned Joint Ministries – Ministry of Public Administration Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives Ministry of Planning Law, Education & Scientific Affairs Secretary – Secretary General Concerned Joint Ministries – Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Bangladesh Parliament Secretariat Ministry of Primary and Mass Education Ministry of Education Ministry of Science and Technology Communications & Public Works Secretary (Chief Executive, Transport, Public Works & Information) – Secretary General Concerned Joint Ministries – Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges Ministry of Housing and Public Works Ministry of Railways Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Public Ministrations & Welfare Secretary (Chief Executive, Human Resources, Health & Welfare Affairs) – Secretary General Concerned Joint Ministries – Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Ministry of Social Welfare Ministry of Women and Children Affairs Ministry of Labour and Employment Ministry of Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment Ministry of Youth and Sports Ministry of Cultural Affairs Ministry of Religious Affairs Natural Resources & Agrarian Affairs Secretary – Secretary General Concerned Joint Ministries – Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Ministry of Agriculture Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock Ministry of Water Resources Ministry of Food Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Economic Affairs Secretary – Secretary General Concerned Joint Ministries – Ministry of Industries Ministry of Commerce Ministry of Shipping Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry of Textiles and Jute Defence Secretary (Chief Executive, Logistics & Military Affairs) – Senior Secretary Concerned Joint Ministries – Ministry of Defence Armed Forces Division Secretary to the Anti-Corruption Commission – Senior Secretary Finance Secretary – 2 (Economic Relations Division) – Senior Secretary Finance Secretary – 3 (Finance Division) – Senior Secretary Three-Star Director General of – The Directorate General of Forces Intelligence – Lieutenant General The National Security Intelligence – Lieutenant General Commissioner, Commissionerate of Dhaka Metropolitan Police – Special IGP S. M. Sazzat Ali Three-Star Military Flag Officers of the rank of – Lieutenant General in the Army Chief of General Staff, formerly DCOAS Adjutant General Quartermaster General Master General of Ordnance Engineer-in-Chief Chief Commandant (Director General) of the Border Guard Bangladesh Chief Commandant (Director General) of the Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defence Party Vice Admiral in the Navy Vice Chief of Naval Staff (No apportion) Chief Commandant (Director General) of the Bangladesh Coast Guard Air Marshal in the Air Force Vice Chief of Air Staff (No apportion) Military Secretary (3-Star Rank) to the President of the Republic – Senior Secretary Principal Staff Officer (Chief Executive), Armed Forces Division, Ministry of Defence Deputy Governors of Bangladesh Bank
16	By Seniority: Commandant-General (Director General) of the Rapid Action Battalion – Addl. IGP (Selection Grade) AKM Shahidur Rahman Chairman of the University Grant Commission Members of the Planning Commission Chairman, Civil Aviation Authority – Air Vice Marshal (Substantive) Director General of the Directorate General of Drug Administration – Major General (Substantive) High Commissioners to the High Commissions of the People's Republic of Bangladesh Abroad Ambassadors to the Embassies of the People's Republic of Bangladesh Abroad Controller General of Accounts Controller General of Defence Finance Deputy Comptroller and Auditor General (Senior) Additional Inspector-Generals of Police in Selection Grade Executive Chairman, Bangladesh Export Processing Zone Authority Two-Star Military Flag Officers of the rank of Major General in the Army General Officers Commanding, Divisions Area Commanders, Area Commands Director Generals, Directorates General Consultants General Commandants Vice Chancellor, Bangladesh University of Professionals Rear Admiral in the Navy Assistant Chiefs of Naval Staff Commanders, Naval Areas Commander, Bangladesh Navy Fleet Chairmen, Port Authorities Vice Chancellor, Bangladesh Maritime University Air Vice Marshal in the Air Force Assistant Chiefs of Air Staff Air Officers Commanding, BAF Bases Commandant, Aeronautical Centre Vice Chancellor, Aviation and Aerospace University Military Advisor (Two-Star Rank) to the Prime Minister's Secretariat Chairman, Bangladesh Trade and Tariff Commission Chairman, Land Reform Board Chairperson, Bangladesh Competition Commission Secretaries and Special Secretaries to the Government in-charge of Divisions and Ministries Senior District and Sessions Judges Registrars of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh
17	Chargé d'affaires en pied of Diplomatic Missions of Foreign Countries in Bangladesh Full-time members of the University Grant Commission Deputy High Commissioners/Deputy Chief of Mission to the Diplomatic Missions of the People's Republic of Bangladesh Abroad Officers holding the status of Secretaries to the Government Chief Economist of Bangladesh Bank Chairman, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority Members – Public Service Commission National Board of Revenue National Professors Vice-Chancellors of Universities Deputy Comptrollers and Auditors General Director General (Major General) – National Telecommunication Monitoring Centre Department of Immigration & Passports Special Security Force Counter Terrorism and Intelligence Bureau Additional Inspector-Generals of Police District & Sessions Judges Additional Registrars of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh Additional Attorney-Generals
18	Mayors of City Corporations (within the jurisdiction of their respective corporation)
19	Additional Secretaries to the Government in-charge of Wings and Superwings and additional in-charges of Divisions and Ministries Chief Conservator of Forests Director General, Department of Narcotics Control Director General, Department of Social Services, Ministry of Social Welfare Director General, Directorate General of Health Services Chief Engineer, Public Works Department Chief Architect of the Government Chief Engineer, Roads and Highways Department Chairman, Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission Chairman, Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation Vice Chairman, Export Promotion Bureau Chairman, Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation Chairman, Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industry Corporation Chairman, Bangladesh Industrial Technical Assistance Centre Chairman, Bangladesh Power Development Board Chairman, Bangladesh Steel and Engineering Corporation Chairman, Bangladesh Oil, Gas & Mineral Corporation (Petrobangla) Chairman, Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation Chairman, Bangladesh Tourism Corporation Chairman, Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation Chairman, Bangladesh Land Port Authority Chairman, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation Chairman, Bangladesh Sugar and Food Industries Corporation Chairman, Bangladesh Jute Corporation Chairman, Bangladesh Forest Industries Development Corporation Chairman, Bangladesh Fisheries Development Corporation Chargé d'affaires ad-interim of Diplomatic Missions of Foreign Countries in Bangladesh Executive Chairman of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council Chairman, Dhaka Improvement Trust Executive Directors of Bangladesh Bank (Grade - 1) Managing Director, Bangladesh Krishi Bank Managing Director, Sonali Bank Managing Director, Rupali Bank Professors of Universities in Selection Grade Visiting Ambassadors and High Commissioners of Bangladesh
20	Chief Judicial Magistrates/Chief Metropolitan Magistrates/Additional District and Sessions Judges/Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge Divisional Commissioners (Grade - 1) within their respective charges (to take precedence over all others in the said group) Director Generals of the Anti-Corruption Commission Director General, Defence Audit Directorate Executive Directors, Bangladesh Bank Chairman, Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research Managing Director, Bangladesh Telecommunications Company Limited Executive Chairman, Bangladesh Export Processing Zone Authority Vice Chairman & Chief Executive, Export Promotion Bureau Director General, Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection Director General, Department of Agricultural Extension Director General, Directorate of Primary Education Director General, Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education Director General, Directorate General of Family Planning Director General, Land Record and Survey Department Director General of Labour Director General, Bangladesh Water Development Board Director General, Bangladesh Sericulture Development Board Director General, National Broadcasting Authority Director General, Directorate General of Food Director General, Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution Director General, National Productivity Organization Director General, Health Economics Unit Director General, Bangladesh Institute of Management Director General, Directorate General of Jute Director General, Geological Survey of Bangladesh Chairman, Bangladesh Handloom Board Division Chief of the Planning Commission Managing Director, Bangladesh Biman Managing Directors of other Nationalised Commercial Banks Consuls General to the Consulates General of the People's Republic of Bangladesh Abroad Deputy Attorneys General Assistant High Commissioner to the Assistant High Commission of the People's Republic of Bangladesh Abroad
21	Divisional Commissioners (Grade - 2) within their respective charges (to take precedence over all others in the said group) Officers of the status of Additional Secretary to the Government Ministers to the Diplomatic Missions of the People's Republic of Bangladesh Abroad Chief Controller of Imports and Exports Inspector General of Registration Inspector General of Prisons – Brigadier General (Substantive) Syed Muhammad Motahar Hussain Director General (Brigadier General – Substantive), Bangladesh Fire Service & Civil Defence Defence Attaché to the Diplomatic Missions of the People's Republic of Bangladesh Abroad Chairman, Rural Electrification Board Chairman, Bangladesh Tea Board Chairman, Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation Chairman, Bangladesh Textile Mills Corporation Chairman, Trading Corporation of Bangladesh Surveyor General of Bangladesh Military Officers of the rank of Brigadier General in the Army Commodore in the Navy Air Commodore in the Air Force Deputy Inspector-Generals of Police within their respective charges Commissioners, Commissionerates of Metropolitan Police Chief Engineer, Housing and Settlement Department Chief Engineer, Public Health Engineering Department Chief Engineer, Health Engineering Department Director General, Department of Youth Development Director General, Bangladesh Railway Director General of Post Offices Director General of National Institute of Population Research and Training Director General of Livestock Services Director General of Fisheries Director General of Technical Education Director General of Madrasha Education Managing Director, Bangladesh Shipping Corporation Managing Directors of the Financial Institutions Ministers and Deputy High Commissioners (of the rank of Ministers in Embassies, High Commissions and Missions located in Bangladesh) Chairman – Chittagong Development Authority – Md. Noorul Karim Rajshahi Development Authority Khulna Development Authority – Brig. Gen. Md. Zahangir Hossain Managing Directors, Water and Sewerage Authorities Deputy Registrars of the Supreme Court Commandant (Commodore) of the Bangladesh Marine Academy Directors (Brigadier General) of Government Medical College Hospitals Joint Secretaries to the Government in-charge of Branches and Wings of Wings and Superwings respectively (to take precedence after all others in the said group)
22	By seniority: Additional Director General, Health Services Joint Secretaries to the Government in departmental deputation Range Commanders (Deputy Director General) of Bangladesh Ansar within their respective charges Commissioners of Taxes within their respective charges Additional Chief Architect Additional Chief Engineers of Government Departments Officers of the status of Joint Secretary to the Government Directors, Local Government Division within their respective charges Principals of Government Medical Colleges Commissioners of Divisions outside their respective charges Consulars of Embassies, High Commissions, and Legations of Foreign and Commonwealth Government Joint Chief, Planning Commission District Administrators & Chairmen, District Councils (if elected) outside their respective charges Collectors of Customs and Excise within their respective charges Additional Divisional Commissioners within their respective charges Additional Deputy Inspector-Generals of Police within their respective charges Officers of the rank of Full Colonel in the Army and equivalent in the Navy and the Air Force Consulars/Counsellors to the Diplomatic Missions of the People's Republic of Bangladesh Abroad Additional Chief Judicial Magistrates/Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrates/Joint District and Sessions Judges/Joint Metropolitan Sessions Judges Assistant Attorneys General Professors of Public Universities
23	By Seniority: Commandants, Rapid Action Battalion (Acting/Substantive Temporary Full Colonel) within their respective charges Mayors of City Corporations outside their respective charges Military, Naval, and Air Attaché to Embassies and Legations and Military, Naval, and Air Advisors to High Commissions Postmasters General Directors, Department of Narcotics Control Directors, Directorate General of Health Services Professors of Government Medical Colleges
24	By Seniority: Chief Accounts and Finance Officers within their respective charges Assistant Inspector-Generals of Police (Superintendent of Police in Selection-Grade) within their respective charges Deputy Commissioners-cum-District Collectors & District Magistrates within their respective charges Divisional Controllers of Accounts within their respective charges Superintendents of Police (If District in-charge) within their respective charges Principals of Government Colleges (National University) Additional Collectors of Customs and Excise Officers of the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Army and equivalent in the Navy and the Air Force Directors to the Anti-Corruption Commission Conservators of Forests
25	By Seniority: Divisional Directors (Grade - 3 & 4), in-charge of Divisional or equivalent Offices of their Respective Departments and Directorates General– Land Reform Board (Deputy Land Reform Commissioner) Department of Land Records and Surveys (Zonal Settlement Officer) Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defence Party (Director) Department of Agricultural Extension (Additional Director) Public Works Department (Superintending Engineer) Roads and Highways Department (Superintending Engineer) Bangladesh Railway (Divisional Railway Manager) Department of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (Director) Department of Social Services (Director) Department of Immigration and Passports (Director) Department of Livestock Services (Director) Department of Fisheries (Director) Directorate General of Family Planning (Director) Department of Environment (Director) Directorate of Technical Education (Director) Directorate General of Food (Director) Bangladesh Election Commission (Regional Election Officer) Department of Labour (Director) Department of Prisons (Deputy Inspector General of Prisons) Special Superintendents of Police Mayors (if elected) of class I Municipalities within their respective charges Full Professors of Government Colleges (National University) Additional Directors of their Respective Departments and Directorates General - Directorate General of Family Planning Directorate General of Food Department of Social Services Assistant Registrars of the Supreme Court Joint Commissioners of Taxes within their respective charges Deputy Directors, Local Government Chief Executive Officers of District Councils Deputy Secretaries to the government Senior Judicial Magistrates/Metropolitan Magistrates/Senior Assistant Judges Chairmen (if elected) of Upazila Parishads within their respective charges Officers of the rank of Major in the Army and equivalent in the Navy and the Air Force, having completed at least 12 years of cumulative commissioned service or having held the rank for not less than a period of 6 years Civil Surgeons within their respective charge First Secretaries to the Diplomatic Missions of the People's Republic of Bangladesh Abroad

References

1. "Supreme Court releases full verdict on Warrant of Precedence". Prothom Alo.
2. "Appellate to hear appeal against verdict over 'warrant of precedence'". Prothom Alo.
3. "Warrant of Precedence: SC order on review petitions deferred again". Daily Star.

• "Warrant of Precedence" (PDF).