In an unprecedented move, the government has instructed Bangladesh’s Ambassador to Japan Md Daud Ali not to take part in Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s scheduled visit to Tokyo from 26 to 29 October, following allegations about the envoy’s links to Jamaat-e-Islami.
In his absence, Md Nazrul Islam, a secretary at the foreign ministry, has been sent to Tokyo to oversee arrangements for the visit. He left for Japan on Wednesday and is expected to remain there until the prime minister’s visit concludes.
An intelligence agency report alleging that Daud Ali is affiliated with Jamaat-e-Islami prompted the foreign ministry to take action against the career diplomat, who has served the country for 31 years.
The move has brought renewed attention to the politicisation of Bangladesh’s bureaucracy, with political leaders and civil servants alike facing criticism for allowing partisan considerations to overshadow public service and national interests.
Former civil servants who served under different governments say political parties and bureaucrats share responsibility for the problem. Political parties seek to advance their agendas through the administration, often at the expense of national interests. Meanwhile, some bureaucrats align themselves with political interests in the hope of securing influential positions or advancing their careers.
Ultimately, they argue, the country pays the price.
What happened
In May, Jamaat Ameer and Leader of the Opposition Shafiqur Rahman visited Japan on a week-long trip. According to an intelligence report, Daud Ali helped arrange the visit because he shared the party’s ideological leanings dating back to his student days.
The ambassador was instructed to return to Dhaka for consultations by 16 October. He subsequently returned and was asked to remain in Bangladesh until the prime minister’s visit to Japan was completed.
After the visit, Daud Ali is scheduled to return to Tokyo to complete his ambassadorial farewell formalities before going on post-retirement leave (PRL) on 27 December this year.
Daud Ali was appointed ambassador to Japan during the interim government’s tenure. He was reportedly close to one of its advisers and had also sought the post of foreign secretary, lobbying for the position when the interim government decided to replace Jasim Uddin.
Meanwhile, the foreign ministry has dispatched Nazrul Islam to coordinate arrangements for the prime minister’s visit. The secretary is expected to return after the trip concludes.
The government’s decision to exclude the ambassador from a high-profile state visit has raised questions about how allegations of political affiliation are handled within the civil service and whether such considerations are influencing diplomatic assignments.
Setbacks on two fronts
The incident has raised concerns that the ruling party may be signalling to bureaucrats that perceived links with opposition political forces could carry serious professional consequences.
However, it remains unclear whether the BNP government intends to reshape the bureaucracy in its own political favour. If it does, critics warn, the country could repeat a familiar cycle in which each successive government seeks to install officials perceived to be politically aligned with it.
Such a pattern would undermine the neutrality of the civil service, weaken institutional continuity and make public administration increasingly vulnerable to changes in political power.
The decision also carries diplomatic implications. Excluding the ambassador from arrangements for a state-level visit could send an awkward signal, particularly when ambassadors are expected to represent the state and safeguard the country’s interests abroad.
A government has the authority to recall, replace or reassign an ambassador. But former civil servants say such decisions should be handled discreetly, professionally and in accordance with established procedures, avoiding unnecessary controversy that could damage the country’s interests or the standing of its diplomatic service.
The episode highlights a broader challenge for the government: ensuring accountability in public administration without turning political affiliation, real or alleged, into a criterion for professional treatment.
Political leaders must avoid using the bureaucracy to advance partisan interests, while civil servants must uphold their duty to serve the state rather than any political party. Without a clear commitment to political neutrality, the cycle of politicisation is likely to continue, regardless of which party holds power.
