The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has instructed all Bangladeshi diplomatic missions, consulates, and residences abroad to remove the portrait of President Mohammed Shahabuddin.
Diplomatic sources from several missions confirmed that the directive was not issued through any official letter or email. Instead, a few ambassadors and high commissioners in specific regions were informed over the phone and were asked to relay the message to other missions.
According to sources within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, certain ambassadors and high commissioners were verbally instructed to remove the President’s portrait from missions, consulates, and the offices and residences of diplomats.
When contacted by Jago News, several missions in South Asia, the Asia Pacific, Africa, and Europe revealed that many have not yet received any formal directive. However, heads of at least two missions confirmed receiving such instructions from the government.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, a senior diplomat posted at a Bangladeshi mission abroad said: “We were informed over the phone from Dhaka to remove the President’s portrait. Though it was not communicated in writing, we were instructed to pass the message to other missions and ensure compliance.”
Another diplomat stated that while they were directly informed by the designated ambassador in their region, the message reached them via a nearby mission.
A diplomat stationed in a Southeast Asian country told Jago News: “I have not received any such message yet. However, I’m not sure whether the High Commissioner has received it or not.”