Bangladesh’s interim government, led by Nobel Peace laureate Muhammad Yunus, has recalled five high-profile envoys, including the ambassador to India, in a significant diplomatic reshuffle, a foreign ministry official reported on Thursday. This move comes amidst major political changes following the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India after weeks of violent protests shook the nation.
The recall affects envoys stationed in Brussels, Canberra, Lisbon, New Delhi, and the permanent mission to the United Nations in New York. According to the foreign ministry, the diplomats have been instructed to return to Dhaka immediately and hand over their responsibilities, though no further details were provided by the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The reshuffle mirrors an earlier move where Saida Muna Tasneem, Bangladesh’s high commissioner to the UK, was also recalled.
This diplomatic shift comes at a time when Bangladesh-India relations are facing renewed scrutiny. Hasina’s ousting, part of a student-led movement that resulted in over 700 deaths, has put pressure on the historically close ties between the two countries, who share a 4,000-kilometer land border and maritime boundaries in the Bay of Bengal. India has been a significant ally to Bangladesh, and Hasina’s flight to India could influence future relations, especially given the instability in Dhaka.
Tensions have been further exacerbated by reports of violence targeting minority groups, particularly Hindus, in Bangladesh following the political upheaval. While the interim government has maintained that the violence is politically motivated rather than religiously driven, such incidents risk straining relations with India, where the treatment of minority groups is closely monitored.
As Bangladesh navigates this transitional period, its relations with India will be key in determining the direction of its foreign policy and regional diplomacy.
