Instruction Issued to Remove President’s Portrait from All Bangladeshi Diplomatic Missions Abroad

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has instructed that the portrait of President Md Shahabuddin be removed from all Bangladeshi diplomatic missions, consulates, and the offices and residences of diplomats stationed abroad.

On Saturday (16 August), this directive was communicated via telephone to several ambassadors and high commissioners based in different regions.

Sources from various foreign missions have confirmed the development. According to those sources, the Ministry did not issue any formal letter or email regarding the directive. Instead, the instructions were relayed through telephone calls to a number of ambassadors and high commissioners in different regions, asking them to remove the President’s portrait from diplomatic missions, consulates, and diplomats’ offices and residences. These designated envoys have also been asked to inform other missions of the instruction.

Conversations with envoys stationed in several missions across South Asia, Africa, and Europe revealed that some have not yet received any such directive. However, heads of two missions abroad have confirmed that they did receive instructions from the government.

A senior diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that instructions were issued from Dhaka to remove the portrait of President Md Shahabuddin from diplomatic missions, consulates, and the official premises and residences of diplomats. The directive was not issued through any official letter or email. Rather, a few regionally assigned envoys were informed via telephone by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and were subsequently asked to relay the information to other missions. These designated envoys will also oversee compliance with the instruction.

Another diplomat commented, “The ambassador in charge of our region did not directly inform us. Instead, an ambassador from a nearby mission conveyed the directive to us on their behalf.”