Staff Reporter: M Shahidul Islam new Ambassador of Bangladesh to United States has just returned to United States after 6-day quarantine. He officially joined Bangladesh Embassy in Washington DC on Thursday (January 14th) local time. A reliable source in Washington DC said.
Officials and staff at the embassy greeted him warmly on the occasion of his joining on Thursday. Earlier he laid a wreath at the bosom from the head of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.Later the Ambassador addressed a general meeting with the officials and employees of the embassy at Bangabandhu Auditorium. Ambassador Islam called upon all to do their utmost to protect the interests of Bangladesh from their respective positions. He held separate meetings with officials and exchanged views on various issues. The Ambassador emphasized on the further development of consular services. He also laid special emphasis on increasing trade and economic activities between Bangladesh and the United States.
Ambassador Shahidul Islam arrived in Washington DC on January 8 to assume new responsibilities. He officially joined the workplace on Thursday (January 14) after just six days of quarantine. Shahidul will replace Mohammad Ziauddin, a diplomat who has been Bangladesh’s ambassador to the United States since June 2014. He is the 16th Ambassador
Ambassador M Shahidul Islam had earlier served as the Deputy Chief of Mission of the Bangladesh Mission in Washington DC. On 27 August 2020, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs appointed the new Ambassador of Bangladesh to the United States, a professional diplomat who had served as Secretary General of Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC).
After serving five years in two phases, the government extended the term of Ambassador Ziauddin for one year in the third phase on July 11, 2019. His successor Shahidul Islam has been acting as the second secretary general of BIMSTEC since September 2017. Shahidul Islam is second Secretary General of BIMSTEC was Counselor and Minister or Deputy Chief of Mission in the Bangladesh Mission in Washington DC from 2001 to 2004. Shahidul Islam joined the BCS foreign cadre in February 1988. He was the Ambassador of Bangladesh to South Korea and France in his colorful diplomatic career.
During his stay in Paris since 2012, he was Permanent Representative to UNESCO and also served as Ambassador or High Commissioner to Romania, Algeria, Ivory Coast and Cameroon.
From 1992 to 1994, he was the second and first secretary of the Deputy High Commission of Bangladesh in Calcutta. He has also held various positions in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including the Director General of the Americas, Pacific and Counterterrorism and Europe Wing.
Shahidul holds a post-graduate diploma in International Relations from the International Institute of Public Administration in Paris, a postgraduate degree in International Relations from Dhaka University.
BP/SM
