Ministry of Foreign Affairs has ordered the removal of President Md Shahabuddin’s portraits from all Bangladeshi diplomatic missions, consulates, diplomats’ offices, and residences abroad.
According to ministry sources, selected ambassadors and high commissioners were explicitly instructed to immediately take down the portraits from missions and residences. While many missions across South Asia, the Asia-Pacific, Africa, and Europe have not yet received formal instructions.
Embassy officials said portraits of President Shahabuddin had been on display in Bangladeshi embassies, high commissions, and diplomats’ residences worldwide. The foreign ministry has now directed that these be removed without delay.
To ensure compliance, one ambassador in each region has been tasked with overseeing the removal process and reporting back to Dhaka. This directive means no photographs of the head of state or government will remain in Bangladesh’s diplomatic missions abroad.
“We were informed over the phone from Dhaka to remove the president’s photo. It didn’t come in writing, but we were tasked with informing other missions and monitoring the process,” a senior diplomat serving abroad told TIMES of Bangladesh on condition of anonymity.
Another diplomat confirmed that the order had been relayed through their regional ambassador, while a Southeast Asia–based diplomat said their mission had yet to receive any such communication.