Bangladesh has recalled five of its envoys, including the ambassador to India, as part of a significant diplomatic reshuffle. This move comes as the interim government, led by Nobel Peace laureate Muhammad Yunus, works to replace key figures from the previous administration, according to foreign ministry sources on Thursday.
The interim government assumed power following weeks of violent protests that culminated in the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on August 5. Hasina, who subsequently fled to India, had been a central figure in Bangladeshi politics for years.
Envoys from Brussels, Canberra, Lisbon, New Delhi, and the Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York have been instructed to return to Dhaka immediately, according to an official who requested anonymity. “It’s likely the government prefers not to retain them, as they were appointed under Hasina’s administration,” said a government insider, also speaking on condition of anonymity.
This reshuffle could signal further changes within the diplomatic corps. The removal of Hasina’s government has triggered widespread administrative shifts, with hundreds of senior officials being reassigned or replaced. Many have been forced to retire early, while others have resigned as a result of the ongoing changes.
The recalled diplomats are expected to go on post-retirement leave in December, according to another foreign ministry official. A formal notice from the ministry instructed them to vacate their posts and return to Dhaka without delay.
This decision follows the recent recall of High Commissioner Saida Muna Tasneem from Britain, who was similarly ordered to return home. No timeline has been provided for the appointment of replacements, with a foreign ministry spokesperson declining to comment on the matter.
The departure of Hasina’s administration, marked by a student-led movement that claimed over 700 lives, has strained relations with India. The two nations share a 4,000-kilometre border and have maritime boundaries in the Bay of Bengal.
Meanwhile, minority groups in Bangladesh have reported attacks on Hindus in the wake of the political transition. However, the government has maintained that the violence is politically driven rather than religiously motivated.
