Diplomatic Correspondent :
Foreign Ministry said that Foreign Secretary (FS) Md Jasim Uddin himself is stepping down from his position and his responsibilities would be reassigned within the next couple of days.
“Foreign Secretary Jasim Uddin personally expressed his desire to step down. He is not being removed. His responsibilities would be changed. He would step down within a couple of days,” Foreign Adviser Touhid Hossain said while talking with the journalists at the Ministry on Wednesday.
Following this, Md Nazrul Islam, currently serving as Secretary (East) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is going to take the responsibility as the Acting Foreign Secretary to oversee routine administrative functions in the ministry. Dr Islam previously served as Bangladesh’s ambassador to Bahrain.
Meanwhile, nothing has been finalised yet regarding the appointment of the next Foreign Secretary.
However, a shortlist has been prepared enlisting a number of cadres from the 15th of the Foreign Cadres. Nazrul Islam is also in the list.
The Foreign Adviser also informed the journalists that changes are also expected in the role of Sufiur Rahman, the Special Assistant for Foreign Affairs to the Chief Advisor, who holds the rank of State Minister.
Jasim Uddin’s departure comes less than a year after his appointment as Foreign Secretary. He assumed the role following the termination of Masud Bin Momen’s contract-based appointment under the interim government that was formed on August 8 last year, led by Dr. Muhammad Yunus. At the time, Jasim Uddin was serving as Bangladesh’s ambassador to China.
Although his term was officially set to end on December 12, 2026, Jasim Uddin has chosen to go on leave rather than complete the full duration. The interim government had reportedly offered him an ambassadorial post elsewhere, which he declined.
A seasoned diplomat from the 13th batch of the BCS Foreign Affairs Cadre, Jasim Uddin has held key diplomatic assignments in New Delhi, Tokyo, Washington DC, and Islamabad. He also served as ambassador to Qatar and Greece prior to his posting in China.
Within the Foreign Ministry, he held several leadership roles, including Director General of the South Asia and East Asia and Pacific Divisions. Under his stewardship, the Bangladesh Embassy in Athens earned the Public Administration Award in 2018 for its notable improvements in consular services.
Jasim Uddin’s departure marks another key shift in the foreign policy leadership under Bangladesh’s interim government, as it continues to restructure top-level diplomatic roles.
Meanwhile, the journalists also asked the Foreign Adviser Touhid Hossain about the shutdown of the export of Bangladesh products to India through the land ports recently.
The Adviser said that the interim government is taking preparation to send a letter to Delhi about the closure. He, however, said that no decision has been taken to cancel any treaty signed between the two countries.
Regarding the recent incidents of push-ins of the Indian citizens by India, he said, “We sent a letter to Delhi on this issue. They did not reply yet. If any Indian citizen is pushed in, the person must return to own land.”
