Important missions abroad to see major changes
UK, Belgium, EU, Italy and Spain to get new ambassadors
Our Correspondent
The government has decided to bring major changes to the ambassadorial positions in Bangladesh missions abroad including the United Kingdom, Belgium as well as the European Union, Italy and Spain.
The major reshuffle is aimed at bringing dynamism in the diplomatic activities of the important missions, said government sources concerned.
Under the rearrangement, High Commissioner to UK Abdul Hannan is all but certain to become the ambassador to Italy. Hannan, who replaced former Foreign Secretary Mijarul Quayes, submitted his credentials to Queen Elizabeth II on February, this year.
Prior to his appointment as the High Commissioner in London, Hannan was the permanent representative and ambassador to the UN Offices and other International Organizations in Geneva and Vienna. Before that he was the ambassador to Oman and served in Bangladesh missions in Karachi, Ottawa, Kolkata and Moscow in various capacities.
Ismat Jahan, the ambassador to Belgium and Head of Mission to EU, is going to become the High Commissioner in London. Shahdat Hossain, ambassador to Italy since 2012, is going to replace Ismat Jahan in Brussels.
Ismat Jahan, who previously worked as permanent representative at the United Nations, has been serving in Brussels since 2009.
Hannan and Shahdat belong to the 1984 batch of Bangladesh Civil Service (Foreign Affairs) Cadre. Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haque also belongs to the same batch.
However, Ismat Jahan is one batch senior to them.
Meanwhile, immediate-past Inspector General of Police Hasan Mahmud Khandker has been made the countrys next ambassador to the European nation of Spain.
Khandker, now under post retirement leave (PRL), has been appointed for three years, according to a circular issued by the public administration ministry yesterday.
Recently, there have also been some changes with regards to the positions of ambassadors and deputy chiefs in some missions.
Ambassador to Qatar Syed Masud Mahmood Khundoker has been called back to the headquarters and his replacement is yet to be announced.
New Ambassador to Lebanon Abdul Motaleb Sarker has recently joined the Beirut mission. He replaced AFM Gausul Azam Sarker, who was recalled to Dhaka amidst allegations of corruption and irregularities.
The Bangladesh embassy in Greece is also going to get a new ambassador soon after a relatively long pause. Jashim Uddin will arrive in Athens at the end of this month. The post of the ambassador fell vacant after previous envoy Golam Mohammad was called back to the headquarters in September, last year, after he was found guilty of assaulting a female.
Director General (Europe) of the foreign ministry Mahbub Hassan Saleh has been made new deputy chief of mission in Washington.
He will replace Muhammad Abdul Muhith, who has been appointed as the new ambassador to Denmark.
Nazrul Islam, the immediate-past Charg de Mission of the embassy in Beirut, has recently joined the Embassy in Riyadh as the deputy chief of mission.
In addition to the reshuffle, the government is planning to make changes to the top positions of couple important missions in America region and Asia, said the sources.
