Two Bangladeshi diplomats stationed in India were dismissed following an order from Bangladesh’s interim government, led by Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus. Shaban Mahmud, the First Secretary (Press) at the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi, was asked to resign before his contract ended. Similarly, Ranjan Sen, holding the same position at the Bangladeshi consulate in Kolkata, was also relieved of his duties.
The interim government, headed by Yunus, was established amidst a turbulent political climate following mass protests and violence that led to the ousting of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. On August 5, at the age of 76, Hasina fled Bangladesh by helicopter to India as protesters took control of Dhaka’s streets, bringing an end to her 15-year rule, which was marred by allegations of human rights abuses. The weeks leading up to her ousting were bloody, with over 450 people losing their lives during the unrest.
Despite Hasina’s escape, Yunus has emphasized that his government intends to maintain friendly relations with all nations. “We will maintain friendly relations with all countries,” he stated in a televised address yesterday.
In a message to the international community earlier this month, Yunus called for continued support in rebuilding Bangladesh and transitioning to a fully functional democracy. He reassured diplomats that Bangladesh would remain committed to multilateralism, with the United Nations at the core of its foreign policy.
