Should female high-ups be addressed as \\\'Sir\\\'?

In recent times, it has become quite a common practice in Bangladesh to address female dignitaries and functionaries of the government starting from the top, down to almost all levels in the executive and judicial branches as 'Sir' instead of 'Madam'. A section of the international press has of late sharply criticised this very unusual, uncommon and ill-conceived idea. It is worth pondering why and under what constraints this distortion has taken place. Was it necessary at all to deviate from the normal usage of the word? Do we have the right to misconstrue or customise a form of etiquette followed universally in all countries, wherever English is spoken and written?
In fact, English words like Sir, Madam, Mister/Master (Mr.), Miss (Ms.) and Mistress (Mrs.) have been adopted in many languages throughout the world, even if English is not their spoken or official tongue.  So is the case in Bangladesh. We have been maintaining the traditional pattern prevalent in the then British India in almost all official activities, manners and etiquette. Now, why do we go for the change? Whose idea it is and for whose benefit?   
And, it is also worth wondering how does a member of the 'female species' feel when she is called 'Sir' in the office and court room or at meetings, conferences and seminars or any public gatherings. Are they really elated, elevated or embarrassed? Let us take the liberty to ask any male public representative, civil servant or professional: "How would you feel, Sir, if you are called 'Madam' by your junior colleagues, clients and visitors in your work station?" We know the answer. It is not palatable. It only gives you a bad taste. So, why should the ladies endure?
In the context of US Army, the question whether female officers can be addressed as Sir came under close scrutiny. In certain circumstances, it was considered expedient for the sake of uniformity in command and control, particularly in the field. The use of the term 'Sir' as a form of address for women of higher rank or status can be found to a limited extent in US armed forces.
But it is hardly replicated elsewhere. This clearly indicates that the term is reserved for males, and there are a number of other appropriate terms for females, such as 'madam', 'ma'am' in colloquial American English.
A review of dozens of online dictionaries confirms that 'Sir' is strictly reserved for male addressees, used as a polite or respectful way of addressing a man, especially one in a position of authority. For instance, a subordinate will say, 'Excuse me, Sir' when presenting a view that differs from that of his/her boss.
Has the use of Sir when addressing a superior female in a military or quasi-military setting become acceptable? Not so, really. Such use or abuse of the word is tolerated only within the US army compound.
It is likely that during a visit to the USA some top policy-makers from Bangladesh came to know about the practice in the US Army, became fascinated and after coming back expressed her/his desire to follow the US 'regimentation' in Bangladesh administration.
Possibly, it did not come to her/his attention that porters in US airports, mostly the black men, are called 'Sir' by the passengers, which is unimaginable and always the reverse in our culture. However, in civic life in the USA, women are generally addressed as 'ma'am' with due politeness.
As the Wikipedia online encyclopaedia puts it, Sir is an honorific address used as a courtesy title to address a man without using his given name or family name in many English-speaking cultures. It is often used in formal correspondence (Dear Sir, Right Honourable Sir).
The term is often reserved for use only in the case of a man of superior rank or status, such as a teacher, a senior government or corporate officer or as a form of address from a seller to a customer. Equivalent terms of address are 'ma'am' or 'madam' in most cases.
In the case of a young or unmarried woman, the preferable address may be 'Miss'. In many countries, female high school teachers are often addressed as 'Miss', even if they are married. The men who are honoured with the British knighthood get 'Sir' prefixed to their names, such as Sir Fazle Hasan Abed, the founder of BRAC.
The equivalent term for a knighted woman is Dame. Lady is used for the wife of a knight. 'Sir' derives from the French word 'sire' (messire means my lord), originating from the old word sieur that came from Latin adjective for a senior or elder person. It became ingrained in titles of respect in many European languages.
The form 'Sir' was first documented in English in 1297, as title of honour of a knight, being a variant of sire, which had already been in use in England since 1205 as a title placed before a name and denoting knighthood, and to address the male Sovereign since c.1225, with additional general meaning of fathers or male parents from c.1250 and important elderly men or senior citizens from 1362.
The air in Bangladesh is heavy with the rumour that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina herself prefers to be called 'Sir' rather than Madam, because BNP Chairperson (not Chairman) Khaleda Zia is called 'Madam' by her party's leaders and activists. The new mode of address gradually spread out from the Ganabhaban and engulfed the whole administrative machinery.
'Sir' is for men. Most women should and would probably be offended if you called them 'Sir', with the rare exception of a few overactive feminists. Moreover, there is a growing tendency in public gatherings and in the media to avoid the use of the word 'mahila' for respectable ladies and to use 'nari' instead.
This does not obviously enhance the status of the fair sex. American communication expert John Landsberg commented, "Ma'am" is what you want to use unless you're asking for trouble". Here in Bangladesh one may better avoid saying 'Madam' and use 'Sir' while approaching a female functionary, failing which one may have to face reprimand or at least incur someone's displeasure.
This contradicts the spirit of the Language Movement. With our glorious tradition of upholding the just cause of our own language and getting the 21st February recognised as the International Mother Language Day, it is least befitting on our part to deliberately disfigure and disgrace English, the lingua franca of the world.
Like many other anomalies and inconsistencies in the political, administrative and social arena, we have got to get rid of the practice of demeaning others' mother tongues. Instead, we can enrich Bangla by adding suitable words from foreign languages to our vocabulary.
The writer, a former civil servant, is Executive Director, Centre for Governance Studies.
 cgs.bd.ed@gmail.com