Meanwhile, another source within the ministry claims there are ongoing attempts to officially “isolate” Shama Obayed Islam, another State Minister for Foreign Affairs. Internal discussions have intensified following Shama Obayed’s absence from the ceremony marking Humayun Kabir’s assumption of office as State Minister.

Humayun Takes Over Khalil’s Office

According to a ministry source, Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman is currently in New York in connection with the activities of the United Nations General Assembly. Allegations suggest that Humayun Kabir occupied the Foreign Minister’s official office during his absence.

The source further claimed that the matter was not limited to using the room alone; the size of the attached washroom was also increased. Ministry officials have been discussing allegations that a larger bathroom was constructed in the office space.

However, no official statement has been issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding whether permission was granted to use the Foreign Minister’s office or concerning the renovation of the washroom.

Shama Obayed ‘Isolated’

Discussions regarding the official standing of the two State Ministers, Humayun Kabir and Shama Obayed, have been ongoing since the distribution of their responsibilities.

According to a circular issued on 23 August, Humayun Kabir was appointed as State Minister for Foreign Affairs-1, while Shama Obayed was designated as State Minister for Foreign Affairs-2.

Sources within the ministry allege that since the allocation of portfolios, attempts have been made to keep Shama Obayed effectively sidelined from key official activities. Shama Obayed’s absence from Humayun Kabir’s assumption of duty ceremony was highlighted as part of this ongoing pattern.

However, Shama Obayed’s comments regarding her absence from the event could not be obtained. As a result, it has not been possible to independently verify whether deliberate attempts are being made to isolate her.

Questions Over Humayun’s British Citizenship

Alongside internal developments at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, controversy surrounds the alleged British citizenship of State Minister Humayun Kabir.

Questions regarding his British citizenship have arisen in various quarters recently. Multiple leaders of the UK branch of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) have claimed that he holds British citizenship. However, clear information has yet to emerge as to whether he formally renounced his British citizenship prior to assuming office as State Minister.

A copy of a British passport that surfaced publicly lists Humayun Kabir’s nationality as a “British Citizen”. The passport in question expired in 2017. Consequently, it cannot be definitively established on the basis of that document alone whether his British citizenship remains valid today.

Following the emergence of these questions, detailed explanations or specific documentation regarding the process of renouncing his citizenship have not been made public. Reports across various news outlets indicated that when questioned by journalists on 24 August, Humayun Kabir expressed anger rather than offering a direct clarification on his citizenship status.

Conversely, Law Minister Md Asaduzzaman remarked that no constitutional violation had occurred in this matter. Nevertheless, public queries regarding the process of Humayun Kabir’s citizenship renunciation remain unresolved.

Altogether, fresh debate has brewed around three issues within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: the use of the Foreign Minister’s official room in his absence, the operational distance between the two State Ministers, and Humayun Kabir’s alleged British citizenship.

No official statements have been obtained from Humayun Kabir, Shama Obayed, or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs concerning the allegations of taking over the office, expanding the washroom, or isolating Shama Obayed.