A political ripple swept through the ranks of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami as party chief and Opposition Leader in the Jatiya Sangsad Dr Shafiqur Rahman relieved his foreign affairs adviser, Prof. Mohammad Mahmudul Hasan, from the post following controversy surrounding a letter sent to the foreign ministry.
The letter, bearing the signature of Shafiqur Rahman and addressed to Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman on February 22, recommended appointing Prof. Hasan to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with the status of a minister. However, senior Jamaat leaders later clarified that the party chief had not approved the inclusion of the provision granting ministerial rank.
According to the letter, Prof. Hasan had been carrying out diplomatic responsibilities effectively as the Jamaat chief's adviser on foreign affairs. It noted that he possessed extensive professional networks and the ability to strengthen Bangladesh's bilateral engagement with various countries and international organisations, including the United Nations, Commonwealth of Nations, ASEAN Regional Forum and the European Union.
The proposal described the appointment as a "new and innovative" initiative, suggesting that such a role could help present the opposition's foreign policy perspectives to the government while maintaining a strategic balance in Bangladesh's international engagement amid shifting geopolitical realities.
But Jamaat leaders later moved swiftly to clarify that the party chief had never consented to the portion recommending ministerial status for the adviser.
Assistant Secretary General Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair said the party had originally intended to send a letter proposing dialogue with the foreign ministry on policy matters and participation in activities related to foreign affairs.
"However, the part mentioning ministerial status did not have the Ameer's approval and was included without his consent," he said.
In the wake of the controversy, the party removed Prof. Hasan from the advisory role and appointed Mir Ahmad Bin Kasem, Member of Parliament for Dhaka-14, as the new foreign affairs adviser to the opposition leader. Party officials said the matter has already been communicated to the foreign secretary.
