Pakistan withdraws envoy from Dhaka amid speculations
Pakistan has withdrawn its high commissioner in Dhaka and named a new envoy to replace him, weeks after he went on sudden leave sparking widespread speculations, Prothom Alo newspaper reported on Tuesday.
"Pakistan's high commissioner in Dhaka
Syed Ahmed Maroof
is not returning to Bangladesh," the newspaper reported, referring to several unnamed senior officials.
Islamabad has named its current ambassador to Myanmar,
Imran Haidar
, as Maroof's replacement, it added.
Maroof had grabbed media focus soon after Muhammad Yunus took charge of the interim government, three days after prime minister Sheikh Hasina's Awami League government was ousted on August 5, 2025 after a student-led violent agitation.
Maroof had worked to ensure increased Dhaka-Islamabad diplomacy, including in arranging A visit by the Pakistan foreign secretary to Dhaka.
Live Events
But he left Dhaka on a sudden leave last month sparking speculations in social media about his alleged relations with two Bangladeshi women. He left Dhaka on May 11, nearly one and half years after his appointment.
The Pakistan High Commission formally informed Bangladesh's Foreign Ministry of his departure saying their deputy high commissioner would serve as acting high commissioner.
Maroof extensively traveled across Bangladesh over the past nine months, with his most recent trip to the southeastern beach resort town of Cox's Bazar, which allegedly coincided with the tour of the two Bangladeshi ladies to the same place. PTI
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
UK report downplays minority persecution in Bangladesh
New Delhi: A report released by the UK Home Office has claimed that the minorities in Bangladesh are unlikely to face persecution from state and non-state actors. The view contrasts sharply with the violence and the anti-minority stance adhered to by people allegedly close to the caretaker government in the country after Sheikh Hasina was ousted from power last year. The report, released this month, also claimed that people belonging to minority communities are unlikely to be arrested and charged for actions that can be construed as an insult to Islam. After Hasina resigned and fled her country in August last year, there have been several instances of violence targeting people of minority communities, especially the Hindus. India has been raising the issue of violence and persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh at the highest level. The UK report claimed that religious minorities can practice their faith freely throughout Bangladesh without harassment. It, however, said that there have been instances of sporadic communal violence, most recently tied to political upheaval, which continue to result in injuries, assaults, deaths and damage to property. Dhaka-based sources told ET that the minority communities in Bangladesh have been under duress ever since the Awami League was ousted from power, and there have been numerous instances of harassment, contrary to what the UK Home Office has claimed. During the August 2024 political unrest in Bangladesh , members of minority religious groups faced harassment and violence. However, according to the report, many cases were politically motivated rather than based on religious differences.
Time of India
7 hours ago
- Time of India
China, Pakistan, Bangladesh hold inaugural trilateral ministerial meet
China, Pakistan and Bangladesh have agreed to advance cooperation based on the principles of good-neighbourliness, equality and mutual trust at the inaugural trilateral meeting of their foreign ministry officials. Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong , Bangladeshi Acting Foreign Secretary Ruhul Alam Siddique and Additional Foreign Secretary of Pakistan Imran Ahmed Siddiqui attended the meeting held at the Chinese city of Kunming, capital of Southern Yunnan province, where China is holding its annual South Asia expo. Pakistani Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch participated, via a video link, in the first phase of the meeting on Thursday, a Chinese Foreign Ministry press release said here on Friday. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Unsold Container Homes in National Capital Region - Prices You Won't Believe! Shipping Container Homes | Search Ads Search Now Undo China's new strategic initiative to bring closer the two estranged South Asian countries in India's immediate neighbourhood comes a month after a similar trilateral mechanism meeting was held with Pakistan and Afghanistan. In his address, Sun Weidong said Bangladesh and Pakistan are both good neighbours, good friends, and good partners of China, and important partners in high quality Belt and Road cooperation, the Foreign Ministry's press release said. Live Events Cooperation among China, Pakistan and Bangladesh aligns with the common interests of the three people, and can contribute to regional peace, stability, development and prosperity, Sun who was a former Ambassador to Pakistan and India, said. The three sides exchanged views extensively on China-Pakistan-Bangladesh trilateral cooperation and agreed to establish a working group to follow up and implement the understandings reached during the meeting, the press release said. They also emphasised that China-Bangladesh-Pakistan cooperation adheres to true multilateralism and open regionalism, not directed at any third party, it added. Thursday's trilateral mechanism comes in the backdrop of Bangladesh's Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus, who took charge after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government last year, warming up to China and seeking Beijing's assistance on various fronts, in an apparent efforts to reduce his country's dependence on India. Yunus has also sought to establish close ties with Pakistan, reviving for the first-time Bangladesh's links with Pakistan after the separation following the 1971 war. The Chinese press release said the three countries have agreed to advance trilateral cooperation based on the principles of good-neighbourliness, equality and mutual trust, openness and inclusiveness, common development, and win-win cooperation during the meeting in Kunming. The trilateral cooperation focuses on promoting economic development and improving people's livelihoods. The three sides agreed to explore and implement cooperation projects in such areas as industry, trade, maritime affairs, water resources, climate change, agriculture, human resources, think tanks, health, education, culture, and youth, it said. In Kunming, Sun also called on Haji Mawlawi Abdul Salam Hanafi, Acting Deputy Prime Minister of the interim government of Afghan, and held bilateral meetings with Ruhul Alam Siddique and Imran Ahmed Siddiqui. A Pakistan Foreign Ministry press release said Baloch commended the Chinese side for convening the inaugural meeting of the trilateral mechanism. Noting the common aspirations of the three sides for people-centric development, she expressed Pakistan's desire for a deeper engagement between China and South Asian countries. Expressing satisfaction at the upward trajectory of bilateral ties, she conveyed Pakistan's readiness to work with China and Bangladesh to enhance ties in trade and investment, agriculture, digital economy, environment protection, marine sciences, green infrastructure, culture, education and people-to-people exchanges. The three sides agreed that trilateral cooperation would be guided by the principles of openness, inclusivity, good neighbourliness, mutual respect and trust, while working towards win-win cooperation, it said.
India Today
7 hours ago
- India Today
China holds first trilateral meeting with Pakistan and Bangladesh
China, Bangladesh and Pakistan held their first trilateral meeting at the official level in China's Kunming. The meeting took place on Thursday and was attended by key representatives from all three Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong, Bangladeshi Acting Foreign Secretary Ruhul Alam Siddique and Additional Foreign Secretary of Pakistan Imran Ahmed Siddiqui participated in the meeting in person. Pakistani Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch joined the first phase of the discussions via video her remarks, Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch appreciated China for organising the inaugural meeting of the trilateral mechanism. She said, 'The Chinese side has done well in convening the inaugural meeting of the trilateral mechanism.' Noting the shared goals of the three nations, she said, 'There are common aspirations of the three sides for people-centric development.' She added that Pakistan seeks 'deeper engagement between China and South Asian countries'.Baloch also noted the positive momentum in Pakistan-China bilateral relations and said Islamabad was ready to boost cooperation with Islamabad and Dhaka in multiple further said Pakistan was ready to work with China and Bangladesh to enhance ties in trade and investment, agriculture and digital Watch IN THIS STORY#Pakistan#Bangladesh
