Govt pondering significant shake up in personnel to key missions abroad

The government is thinking of bringing changes in a number of important missions abroad, including Washington, New Delhi, Canberra and Geneva.

This is according to a highly placed diplomatic source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, although they did add it may still take a couple of months at least to complete the necessary procedures for the planned changes, and that nothing is finalised yet.

But they did disclose some very specific possibilities. 

Bangladesh High Commissioner to New Delhi Muhammad Imran is likely to be the next ambassador to the USA if everything goes well, while current Ambassador M Shahidul Islam will return to Dhaka.

The government appointed Shahidul Islam, who served as the secretary general of BIMSTEC, as Ambassador to the USA in September 2020.

He is a career foreign service officer belonging to 1985 batch of Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) Foreign Affairs cadre and served in Bangladesh Missions in Kolkata, Geneva and Washington DC.

He served as ambassador of Bangladesh to South Korea and France. At the headquarters, he worked in various capacities including director general (America) and director general (Europe). 

In January this year, the government extended contractual appointment of Muhammad Imran by three more years as Bangladesh High Commissioner to India.

Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the UN Offices and other International Organisations in Geneva Md Mustafizur Rahman is likely to be appointed as Bangladesh High Commissioner to India.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh High Commissioner to Australia Mohammad Sufiur Rahman is likely to become Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the UN Offices and other International Organisations in Geneva.