Bangladesh's Interim Govt Recalls Envoys From 5 Nations, Including India, In Major Diplomatic Reshuffle

Bangladesh’s interim government announced the recalling of five envoys on Wednesday, including the ambassador to neighbouring India in a a major diplomatic reshuffle, people familiar with the matter said.

The foreign ministry ordered envoys in Brussels, Canberra, Lisbon, New Delhi and the permanent mission to the United Nations in New York to return to the capital, Dhaka, an official said on the condition of anonymity.

Many changes to the political landscape in the South Asian country emerged after the interim government led by Nobel Peace laureate Muhammad Yunus came to power following the violent protest that forced Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to step down on August 5 and flee to neighbouring India.

The five envoys, including the High Commissioner to India, were asked to immediately hand over their responsibilities and return, a foreign ministry official said, without elaborating.

The development comes after Bangladesh’s interim government recalled Saida Muna Tasneem, the high commissioner, or ambassador, to Britain, in a similar way.

Both the countries- India and Bangladesh, have a 4,000-km (2500-mile) border and maritime boundaries in the Bay of Bengal. The ties between the countries were strained after more than 700 people died in the aftermath of the student-led movement that ousted the Sheikh Hasina government.

Several reports suggested that minority groups in Bangladesh, especially the Hindu community, were attacked after the political changes, triggering concerns for their safety in the Indian community and government. However, the Bangladesh government said the violence was motivated by politics, not religion.