Bangladesh recalls envoy from India in major diplomatic reshuffle

Bangladesh has withdrawn its High Commissioner from India, Mustafizur Rahman, indicating a ‘foreign policy’ re-set from the times of Prime Minister Shiekh Hasina’s regime that ended on August 5 following street protests in Dhaka.

Rahman is among six other diplomats Bangladesh has withdrawn from various postings across the world. 

A letter signed by Mohammad Nazmul Haque, Director General (administration) of the Bangladesh Foreign Ministry, did not give details why Rahman was being withdrawn but asked the diplomat to return to Dhaka immediately.

Separately in Dhaka, the Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma had, yesterday posted on social media platform X about his meeting with Foreign Affairs Adviser of the Government of Bangladesh, Mohd  Touhid Hossain.

“Discussed ways to promote bilateral relations towards realizing shared aspirations of the people of both the countries.”

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Hossain had also met on the sidelines of the US meet in New York last week.

On August 5, Hasina had flown on board a special plane from Dhaka and landed at Hindon air base near New Delhi. An Interim Government led by Noble Peace awardee Mohd Yunus was sworn in on August 8.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs at Dhaka has recalled five other envoys from missions, which include Bangladesh Permanent Representative to the UN in New York Mohammad Abdul Muhith, Ambassador to Belgium Mahbub Hasan Saleh, High Commissioner to the UK Saida Muna Tasneem, Ambassador to Australia M Allama Siddiky and Ambassador to Portugal Rejina Ahmed.