Salahuddin Noman Chowdhury Set to Become Bangladesh’s Next Foreign Secretary

Former Bangladesh Permanent Representative to the United Nations Salahuddin Noman Chowdhury is set to become the country’s next foreign secretary, according to government sources.

He is likely to take charge of the top administrative position at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs by the end of this month, the sources said.

Chowdhury has been selected to replace current Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam, who has been appointed Bangladesh’s next high commissioner to India, according to multiple sources at the policy-making level of the government.

Several senior diplomats were reportedly considered for the foreign secretary’s post. However, Chowdhury was ultimately chosen as the preferred candidate. His appointment is now awaiting formal approval, according to officials familiar with the matter.

Chowdhury joined Bangladesh’s foreign service cadre in 1998 and has more than 25 years of diplomatic experience. During his career, he has held several important positions in both bilateral and multilateral diplomacy.

From January 2025 until August this year, he served as Bangladesh’s permanent representative to the United Nations in New York. Earlier, he served as Bangladesh’s ambassador to Nepal from 2020 to 2024.

He has also served as Bangladesh’s deputy high commissioner in New Delhi and worked at Bangladesh missions in Islamabad and New York. He previously served as a counsellor at Bangladesh’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York.

At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dhaka, Chowdhury served as director general of the Administration and External Publicity wings. He also served as vice-principal of the Foreign Service Academy.

His previous assignments also include work in the ministry’s multilateral economic affairs, protocol, United Nations and Southeast Asia divisions.

Chowdhury holds a bachelor’s degree from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET). Before joining the foreign service, he worked in the private sector.

Other Diplomats Were Considered

Riaz Hamidullah was also among those considered for the foreign secretary’s post. He has served as Bangladesh’s ambassador to the Netherlands and Sri Lanka and has now been selected as the country’s next ambassador to India.

Sources claimed that policymakers were dissatisfied with his performance during his tenure in India, which contributed to the decision not to appoint him as foreign secretary. He is instead likely to be appointed Bangladesh’s permanent representative in Geneva, according to the sources.

M A Muhith, who has been appointed Bangladesh’s new high commissioner to the United Kingdom, and Tareque Ariful Islam, Bangladesh’s current ambassador to the United States, were also reportedly considered for the post.

If Chowdhury’s appointment is finalised, he will become Bangladesh’s fourth foreign secretary in less than two years.

Masud Bin Momen initially served as foreign secretary at the beginning of the interim government. He was later replaced by Jashim Uddin, whose tenure was also relatively brief. After Jashim Uddin was appointed Bangladesh’s high commissioner to Canada, Asad Alam Siam took over as foreign secretary.

With Siam now being appointed high commissioner to India, another change is imminent at the top administrative level of the Foreign Ministry.

If the appointment proceeds as expected, Salahuddin Noman Chowdhury will assume office as Bangladesh’s new foreign secretary by the end of this month.