Foreign ministry begins shake-up
With the inauguration of the new government, the foreign ministry is poised to go through an overhaul with new postings, transfers or retirements of diplomats.
Bangladesh ambassadors to the United States Humayun Kabir and Vietnam Maroof Zaman have been called back to Dhaka at the first knock.
Foreign Secretary Touhid Hossain yesterday told reporters that they had been called back as “it was deemed fit”. But, he said, it takes time for them to come back.
It has not yet been decided who to be assigned to the important diplomatic mission in Washington.
Touhid said Bangladesh Ambassador to Malaysia Maj (Retd) Khairuzzaman, who was accused in the Jail Killing Case and later acquitted by High Court orders, would relinquish his charge on February 28. After relinquishing his post, one diplomat usually takes seven days to return home.
Presently, seven ambassadorial posts remained vacant in Bangladesh missions abroad. With the calling back of the three envoys, the number of vacancies will be 10.
The foreign secretary said currently three army generals are serving in Bangladesh missions abroad. Rear Admiral Mustafizur Rahman is scheduled to take up his assignment as ambassador to Libya.
As per government decision of 1991, 70 percent Foreign Service Cadres and 30 percent from outside the cadre are appointed as ambassadors.
The new government has not yet made any political appointment for the ambassadorial job.
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