Published: 12:24 AM, 25 June 2026
Changes on cards to reshuffle Foreign Service, envoys
Diplomatic sources have informed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) has nearly finalized decisions to reshuffle certain top posts in Foreign Service including Foreign Secretary and some envoys in vital countries. Reports suggest that Bangladesh Permanent Representative to the United Nations Salahuddin Noman Chowdhury is most likely to be appointed as the new Foreign Secretary replacing Asad Alam Siam. New contractual ambassadors are going to be placed in Britain and UN too, relevant sources have told reporters.
Muhammad Abdul Muhith is supposedly going to be nominated as the next Bangladesh High Commissioner in Britain. Former Amnesty International Secretary General Irene Khan is reportedly being considered for the Bangladesh Permanent Representative post in the United Nations.
Stormy confabulations over these imminent reshuffles are going on in the Foreign Service. On the other hand, analysts have expressed concern that frequent changes in the Foreign Secretary post might obstruct MOFA pursuits.
Reports have surfaced that Riaz Hamidullah, Bangladesh High Commissioner in New Delhi is going to be replaced with a more competent diplomat. Riaz Hamidullah is widely known in the Foreign Service Office as a branded official closely associated with ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and he had blessings from the controversial interim government too. Very recently Riaz Hamidullah hit news headlines as a result of the unwanted occurrence in Delhi Airport where the Prime Minister's Adviser Dr. Zahed Ur Rahman was interrogated by Indian immigration officials for two hours. Foreign affairs experts at that time raised questions about Riaz Hamidullah's protocol sense and diplomatic skills which embarrassed the Bangladesh government.
During Sheikh Hasina's premiership Riaz Hamidullah held cozy positions like Chief of Protocol and Ambassador in Netherlands. During those years Riaz Hamidullah arrogantly denied to meet European Union member countries' ambassadors at Foreign Ministry in Dhaka. Allegations show that Riaz Hamidullah played a vile game behind the withdrawal of Jashim Uddin from Foreign Secretary post and then sending him to Canada. Riaz Hamidullah was also at the back of the Rakhine Corridor ploy aimed at putting Bangladesh's sovereignty in perils.
Experts have stated that efficient and patriotic diplomats like Jashim Uddin are required for higher echelons in the Foreign Ministry. At the same time veteran retired envoys have urged the authorities concerned to appoint diplomats with sagacity and vigilance so that Bangladesh's greater interest can be properly served in the international arena while politicized and partisan diplomats with very little special dexterity should not be posted in important places.
