Bangladesh recalls 5 ambassadors in major diplomatic reshuffle

Bangladesh's interim government, led by Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus, has recalled five ambassadors, including High Commissioner to India Mustafizur Rahman. This decision, announced through an official notification on Wednesday, is perceived as part of a broader effort to reconfigure the country’s diplomatic representation amid changing political landscapes.

The other envoys recalled include Bangladesh’s ambassadors to Australia, Belgium, Portugal, and the permanent representative to the United Nations. This move follows the earlier recall of Saida Muna Tasneem, the ambassador to the UK. The diplomats have been instructed to return to Dhaka immediately, with no additional details provided regarding the reasons behind this sudden change.

The recall comes at a tumultuous time for Bangladesh-India relations, which have soured since the fall of Sheikh Hasina's government in August. Rahman, a seasoned diplomat previously appointed to his role in November 2022, had been instrumental in fostering diplomatic ties between the two nations during Hasina’s administration. As the relationship faces new challenges, Yunus has expressed a desire for continued good relations with India but has also called for India to extradite Hasina to face legal proceedings in Bangladesh.

While Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Yunus have yet to hold a bilateral meeting, efforts were made for a meeting during Modi's recent visit to the United States. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met with Bangladesh's Foreign Minister Md. Touhid Hossain on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, indicating ongoing diplomatic engagement. Meanwhile, Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma also met Hossain to discuss enhancing bilateral ties.