The Institute of Public Health (IPH) has asked its Muslim staffers to maintain specific dress code.

Dr Muhammad Abdur Rahim, director of the institute under the health directorate, in a circular issued on Wednesday asked male employees to wear clothes above the ankle and women below the ankle with hijab.

"It is mandatory to keep mobile phones on silent mode or switch them off [for all] and wear clothes -- above the ankle for men and below the ankle along with hijab for women staffers; and the instruction is to adhere to the [Islamic] dress code," the circular read. 

The Daily Star made multiple phone calls and sent text message to Dr Abdur Rahim to know the reason for issuing the circular. He, however, did not respond and kept his phone switched off.

Meanwhile, hours after the issuance of the circular, the DGHS sought an explanation from the IPH director.

In a handout issued in the afternoon, the health directorate asked the director to explain in three days how he issued the circular, on the basis of which regulation, and with which authority's approval.