Bangladesh’s interim government has initiated a significant diplomatic reshuffle by recalling five envoys, including the ambassador to neighboring India, as confirmed by a foreign ministry official on Thursday.
This development comes amid major political changes in the South Asian country, following the establishment of an interim government led by Nobel Peace laureate Muhammad Yunus. The transition was triggered by weeks of violent protests that forced Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to resign on August 5 and seek refuge in India.
The foreign ministry has ordered envoys stationed in Brussels, Canberra, Lisbon, New Delhi, and the permanent mission to the United Nations in New York to return immediately to the capital, Dhaka. The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, noted that these diplomats were instructed to hand over their responsibilities before departing, though no further details were provided.
This recall follows the earlier return of Saida Muna Tasneem, the high commissioner to Britain, who was also asked to come back. The political upheaval has resulted in over 700 fatalities from the student-led movement that ousted Hasina, causing strain in Bangladesh’s relations with India. The two countries share a 4,000-km (2,500-mile) border and maritime boundaries in the Bay of Bengal.
In the wake of the political changes, minority groups in Bangladesh have reported attacks on Hindus; however, the government contends that the violence is politically motivated rather than religious.
