Ruhul Alam to carry out routine works of foreign secretary

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday assigned Secretary Md Ruhul Alam Siddique to carry out the routine duties of the foreign secretary until further notice, as the previous foreign secretary has stepped aside from his responsibilities.

An office order issued by the ministry said the assignment will take effect from today.

"Ruhul Alam Siddique will carry out the routine works of the foreign secretary until further notice as the foreign secretary left his responsibilities," the order read.

Speaking to the media on Wednesday, Foreign Affairs Adviser Touhid Hossain said Foreign Secretary Jashim Uddin was stepping down on his own accord and was not being removed from his position.

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"He will be very much in the job, with other responsibilities," said the adviser.

He did not specify the reasons behind Jashim's decision but said he was leaving the responsibility for "various reasons".

In September last year, the government appointed Jashim Uddin as the 27th foreign secretary. A career diplomat, he joined the foreign service in 1994 from the 13th batch of BCS (foreign affairs) cadre and has served extensively both at home and abroad.

Asad Alam Siam, Bangladesh's ambassador to the US, is likely to be the next foreign secretary, multiple officials of the foreign ministry told The Daily Star on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the government yesterday cancelled its previous transfer order for Shabab Bin Ahmed, currently serving as minister (political) at the Bangladesh Embassy in The Hague, Netherlands.

Instead of joining the Kolkata mission as deputy high commissioner in June as planned, he has now been asked to return to headquarters. The ministry did not give any reason for cancelling the earlier order.