Twenty-one Bangladeshi missions are set to receive new ambassadors

The interim government has decided to recall six contract-appointed ambassadors between August 8 and 15 and to bring back ambassadors going on post-retirement leave (PRL) by December 31 to Dhaka.

As a result, new ambassadors will be appointed to at least 21 Bangladeshi missions abroad, including those in the US, UK, and China, with the recruitment process already completed at several locations.

Additionally, changes are expected in at least ten foreign missions, involving transfers and filling vacant positions within a month.

Diplomatic analysts note that this marks the first time such a significant number of diplomatic appointments or transfers has occurred at various missions in such a short time frame.

Several high-level government sources have informed Prothom Alo that proposed names for diplomats have already been sent to eight countries, including the US, UK, China, and Saudi Arabia, for their approval.

Furthermore, decisions have been made to appoint new ambassadors to 12 countries, and the process of submitting names for approval is underway. Former secretary Md Mahfuzur Rahman is set to become Bangladesh’s ambassador to Portugal, while the appointment of a high commissioner to the important mission in India is still pending.

Currently, at least six missions are operating without an ambassador.

Regarding this, foreign affairs adviser Md Touhid Hossain told Prothom Alo that a process has been initiated to fill the vacant ambassador positions at Bangladesh missions abroad, and proposed names have already been sent to multiple countries. Additional names for new ambassadors will be sent soon.

Proposals Sent to Eight Countries
The interim government decided to recall contract ambassadors from the US, Russia, Japan, Germany, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE within a week of its formation, subsequently canceling their contracts.

Md Jasim Uddin, the then Bangladesh ambassador to China, was appointed as the foreign secretary, leaving these seven missions without ambassadors.

Moreover, ambassadors from India, the UK, New York, the permanent mission to the UN, Belgium, Australia, and Portugal are set to go on PRL by December 31 and have been asked to return to Dhaka, as their contracts will not be extended. This has resulted in a total of 13 vacant ambassador positions. The nomination process has begun for Bangladesh’s ambassador to Austria and its permanent representative to the UN office in Vienna.

The recruitment process has also been finalized for several ambassadors: Asad Alam to the US, Nazmul Islam to China, Abida Islam to the UK, Md Daud Ali to Japan, M Delwar Hussain to Saudi Arabia, Zulkar Nain to Algeria, Shahnaz Ghazi to Romania, and Tareq Ahmed to the UAE. A note verbale has been sent to these eight countries for their approval, with both the US and the UAE having consented.

Representatives in the UN and OIC
The tenure of Bangladesh's permanent representative at the UN headquarters in New York, Mohammad Abdul Muhith, will conclude in December. He will be replaced by Salauddin Noman Chowdhury, the Bangladesh envoy in Nepal.

In a significant move, Bangladesh has appointed its first permanent envoy to the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), with MJH Javed serving in this role.

Proposal to 10 Countries Including Belgium
New ambassadors will be appointed to another ten foreign missions due to contract cancellations, retirements, and transfers.

Decisions have been made to appoint Khandaker Masudul Alam as Bangladesh's envoy in Belgium and the permanent representative to the EU, Toufique Hasan as the ambassador to Austria, and Rois Hasan Sorwar as the envoy to Bahrain.

The appointments of Touhidul Islam to Brazil, Nazmul Huda to Iraq, Mushfiqul Fazal Ansarey to Mexico, Sadia Faizunnessa to Nepal, Rear Admiral Khondkar Misbah-ul-Azim to Oman, Toufiq Islam Shatil to South Korea, and Ferdousi Shahriar to Singapore have also been finalized. The process for sending their names for approval is set to commence.

First-time Ambassadors for Nine Diplomats
Following the government's takeover, an initial decision was made to abolish contractual recruitments, although it later reversed this stance.

Among the 21 missions currently undergoing recruitment, 18 will be led by professional diplomats. Additionally, one former secretary and one journalist have been appointed under contract, and a senior Navy officer is set to join the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as an ambassador.

Out of the 18 diplomats, nine will assume ambassador roles for the first time, covering missions in Belgium, the UAE, Singapore, Austria, Romania, Bahrain, Iraq, South Korea, and OIC headquarters.

Vacancies in Six Countries, Including India and Russia
The mission in India, crucial for Bangladesh's diplomatic relations, is still without an appointed ambassador, and the same applies to Russia. Furthermore, there are vacancies in Australia, Poland, the Maldives, and Algeria.

The government has yet to finalize appointments for these positions.

Former ambassador to the US and president of the Bangladesh Enterprise Institute, Humayun Kabir, remarked to Prothom Alo that the simultaneous appointment of so many ambassadors in such a short time is unprecedented.

He acknowledged the significant changes in the country since August 5, allowing for these appointments. He emphasized the need for the recruitment process to reflect contemporary requirements while ensuring fair appointments based on the importance of bilateral relations with relevant countries.