According to the report, eighteen out of 61 Bangladesh ambassadors and high commissioners now are not foreign- service officers. Sending anyone aspiring to become an ambassador to head a Bangladesh Mission abroad also limits the scope for promotion and posting for career foreign-service officers to ambassadorial assignments.
Meanwhile, the governments of at least two countries – Japan and Morocco – were surprised knowing that Bangladesh confirmed some ambassadorial appointments and made public announcement in this
regard prior to getting concurrence from the respective receiving countries. Japanese diplomatic quarter in Dhaka and Tokyo were learnt to have surprised at Bangladesh’s latest ambassadorial appointment to Japan, making some of them curious whether Bangladesh has downgraded its relations with the East Asian country.
Similarly, Bangladesh has also announced a contract appointment as the ambassador to Morocco without getting concurrence from that African country.
It is to be noted that six foreign-service officers, who have recently retired from their regular jobs have been made ambassadors to six countries. Five senior military officers have also received ambassadorial assignments.
It is known that a good number of senior serving foreign ministry officials have been abroad enjoying their positions.
Favouritism not the competence is the main consideration anywhere in government appointments. Many of the ambassadors are not presentable and do nothing other than enjoying diplomatic immunities.
Our people’s tax money is spent mostly to maintain a huge government. We simply do not need too many ambassadors. First, the foreign ministry should have the competence to judge the efficiency of the ambassadors.
