Photos of President Shahabuddin Being Taken Down from Bangladesh Missions Abroad

Photographs of Bangladesh President Mohammed Shahabuddin are reportedly being removed from several Bangladeshi embassies and missions abroad following verbal instructions issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The move has been confirmed by ambassadors from four different diplomatic missions, speaking to Ajker Patrika on condition of anonymity.

According to one ambassador, the directive was not issued in writing but communicated verbally through senior mission heads across different regions. “Instructions regarding the removal of the President’s photo are being relayed via comparatively senior officials in respective zones,” the ambassador stated.

Three other ambassadors confirmed receiving similar instructions last Thursday and Friday. In line with the directive, the missions have already taken down the President’s photos, according to sources at three embassies.

When contacted, Foreign Ministry spokesperson and Director General of Public Diplomacy Shah Asif Rahman said, “I’ve heard about the removal of the President’s photo from some missions, but we haven’t received any written directive on the matter.”

A newly appointed head of mission noted that following the fall of the Awami League government on August 5 last year, many missions also removed photographs of then-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Some missions, acting out of caution, also took down photos of the President around the same time.

The diplomat added that in countries with large Bangladeshi expatriate communities, there were concerns that embassies could be targeted by mobs. As a precautionary measure, some missions removed official portraits to avoid potential attacks.