United News of Bangladesh

Bangladesh Ambassador to the United States Asad Alam Siam is likely to be the next Foreign Secretary of the country. "There was a proposed list of three candidates," a senior official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs told UNB, noting that Ambassador Siam is chosen as the senior most of the three candidates. If there is no further change in the decision of the government, Ambassador Siam will replace current Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin. Ambassador and Permanent Representative to Switzerland Tareq Md Ariful Islam was also there in the list of three proposed names. Ambassador Siam joined the diplomatic service in 1995. He joined Bangladesh Embassy in the USA in December 2024. It could not be known whether the current Foreign Secretary will be sent on leave or will follow a new posting abroad. A graduate in Architecture from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Ambassador Siam did his MBA from Maastricht School of Management, the Netherlands. Ambassador Siam attended different professional courses at SAARC Secretariat, Kathmandu; APCSS, Hawaii; IFANS, Seoul; National Defence College, Dhaka. He was a guest lecturer in different training institutions in Bangladesh. In his long diplomatic career, Ambassador Siam served as Director in the Offices of Foreign Minister, Foreign Secretary; Director General in Europe and EU wing; Chief of Protocol, Rector of the Foreign Service Academy and Inspector General of Missions in the Foreign Ministry. Committed to supporting  Bangladesh in building 'more equitable' society: Norway Overseas, he served in Bangladesh Missions in Bangkok, Jakarta, and Manchester. He was Bangladesh's first Consul General in Milan, Italy; and Bangladesh's Ambassador to the Philippines, Palau, Austria, Hungary, Slovenia and Slovakia. He participated in various bilateral, regional and multilateral negotiations representing Bangladesh. He served as Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative to the UN Offices in Vienna and to OPEC Fund. He was also Bangladesh’s Alternate Permanent Representative to the UNESCAP in Bangkok. He served as Governor in the Board of Governors of IAEA, Vice Chair at the 67th Commission on Narcotic and Drugs in UNODC, in the Board of Governors of the Colombo Plan Staff College, Manila both as a Chair and a Governor. In September last year, the government appointed Jashim Uddin as the 27th Foreign Secretary of Bangladesh. A career diplomat, Jashim joined Bangladesh Foreign Service in 1994. Jashim, from the 13th batch of BCS (Foreign Affairs) Cadre, served extensively both at home and abroad. There was a speculation that the Foreign Secretary would be replaced, but there is no official announcement yet. Secretary (East) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr Md Nazrul Islam led the Bangladesh delegation at the recently held Foreign Office Consultations with Japan.

Bangladesh and Indonesia on Thursday stressed early signing of Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) within the ambit of which potential export items from both countries would be allowed to enter duty free. The two countries agreed to complete the signing of pending MoUs and agreements on a fast-track basis, pursue sector specific agenda and do the needful to expand the volume of bilateral trade and investment. Bangladesh sought Indonesia’s continued support for Rohingya repatriation and appreciated the last ASEAN Leaders’ Meeting which also called for early repatriation of Rohingyas to Myanmar. Indonesia assured to stand beside Bangladesh on Rohingya issue. Bangladesh and Indonesia held their first ever Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) on Thursday and discussed the issues. Also read: PM for building infrastructures to reap highest benefits from PTA

The 5th BIMSTEC Summit, preceded by the 17th BIMSTEC Ministerial meeting, is proposed to be held in Colombo, Sri Lanka in the first half of January 2021 subject to the improved COVID situation. 

Indian Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla on Tuesday night met Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and discussed ways of strengthening cooperation between the two countries. 

Former Bangladesh foreign secretary and immediate-past high commissioner to India Syed Muazzem Ali was fondly remembered as an astute diplomat, fine human being, a brave freedom fighter and a genuine friend of India.