The Mohammad Yunus-led interim regime in Bangladesh today moved to restrain Mohammad Jashim Uddin, who resigned from his post and proceeded on leave, to continue performing his duties in that capacity, a Foreign Ministry notification reveals.
Jashim Uddin, who reportedly took a “principled” against the proposed “humanitarian corridor” that was aimed to be established on the Myanmar-Bangladesh for the smooth cross-border flow of supplies to the Arakan Army, was first sought to be “discredited” on an issue involving non-payment of dues in a club.
This was the handle the government used to “take action” against Jashim Uddin for taking a stand contrary to the one that Bangladesh’s National Security Adviser Khalilur Rahman had wanted the Foreign Ministry to follow on the “humanitarian corridor”.
Northeast News has now learned that besides opposing the “humanitarian corridor”, Jashim Uddin had vehemently stood against backing or supporting the Arakan Army with logistics help and supply of provisions for their military operation against the Myanmar military junta.
Sources familiar with the issue surrounding the “humanitarian corridor” revealed that Jashim Uddin had pointed out to Khalilur Rahman that the interim government’s stand on the controversial issue, which impinged on Myanmar’s sovereignty, had cost the Bangladesh Defence Attache in Yangon, Brigadier General Mohammad Aftab Hossain, his job.
For the record, Brig Gen Hossain was declared “persona non grata” by the Yangon regime and told to leave Myanmar within a week.
During his reasoned response on the “humanitarian corridor”, Jashim Uddin adopted an independent line, arguing that Khalilur Rahman’s insistence on the going ahead with “humanitarian corridor” could provoke the Yangon regime to take action against the Bangladeshi ambassador posted there.
When this was brushed aside by Khalilur Rahman, Jashim Uddin sought to argue, as a last resort, that the Bangladesh interim regime “could not overlook” the fact that the military regime of Major General Ming Aung Hlaing was the legal authority in Myanmar.
Jashim Uddin then reportedly did not speak further, having registered his reasons against the “humanitarian corridor” and its adverse implications.
The ”humanitarian corridor” issue continued to adversely impact the Bangladesh Foreign Ministry as the Yunus administration today took an unusual decision to recall Shabab Bin Ahmed, Bangladesh’s Minister (Local) at Bangladesh’s embassy at The Hague.
A May 22 order issued by the Foreign Ministry (signed by Director (Administration Naureen Sharmin) sent a terse message to Shabab Bin Ahmed, instructing him to return on “transfer to headquarters” in Dhaka.
He was told hand over his responsibilities at The Hague embassy and return to Dhaka “post-haste.
The Foreign Ministry order indicates that Shabab Bin Ahmed reportedly turned down a posting (order issued on November 21, 2024) to Bangladesh’s Deputy High Commission in Kolkata.
However, knowledgeable sources said that Shabab Bin Ahmed made comments on social media that were found to go against the government’s stand on the “humanitarian corridor”.
Besides, the sources said, the order instructing him to return to Dhaka was issued against him as he threw in support for Jashim Uddin.
