Dhaka recalls Indian envoy, signals foreign policy reset

Bangladesh has recalled its High Commissioner to India Mustafizur Rahman, signalling a foreign policy reset after the ouster of former PM Sheikh Hasina. Her rule ended on August 5 following street protests in Dhaka.

5 more withdrawn

Apart from the High Commissioner to India, Dhaka has also recalled five other senior diplomats posted in Brussels, Canberra, London, Lisbon and the UN in New York

Nepal, India, Bangladesh  ink electricity pact

Nepal, India and Bangladesh on Thursday signed an agreement to facilitate cross-border electricity trade. According to the pact, Nepal would export its surplus electricity to Bangladesh via India annually.

Rahman is among the six diplomats Bangladesh has recalled from various countries and the UN.

A letter signed by Mohammad Nazmul Haque, director general (administration) of the Bangladesh foreign ministry, did not give reasons for the recall but asked the diplomat to return to Dhaka immediately.

In Dhaka, Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma on Wednesday posted on X about his meeting with Mohd Touhid Hossain, foreign affairs adviser to the Bangladesh government. “Discussed ways to promote ties towards realising shared aspirations of the people of both countries,” he posted.

On August 5, Hasina had flown from Dhaka and landed at the Hindon airbase. An interim government led by Nobel laureate Mohd Yunus was sworn in on August 8. Among the other envoys recalled by Dhaka are Permanent Representative to the UN Mohammad Abdul Muhith, Ambassador to Belgium Mahbub H Saleh, High Commissioner to the UK Saida Muna Tasneem, Ambassador to Australia M Allama Siddiky and Ambassador to Portugal Rejina Ahmed.