Mashrakha Jahan Mona 

In an unprecedented move in global diplomatic history, Bangladesh’s Ambassador to Japan, Md Daud Ali, has been recalled to Dhaka on the eve of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s upcoming visit to Tokyo.

Normally, the resident ambassador oversees coordination and preparations for a visiting head of government. However, Daud Ali will not be present in Tokyo during the high-profile state visit scheduled for October 26–29. Informed sources revealed that the ambassador was brought back to Dhaka due to Tokyo’s reservations regarding a sensitive diplomatic issue, excluding him entirely from the trip's preparation and coordination team.

According to diplomatic sources, Japan raised strong objections to a specific paragraph inserted into the joint statement issued during Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s visit to China in June last year. Tokyo considers the clause—referring to the post-World War II international order and opposing the revival of fascism and militarism—highly sensitive to its national interests.

Japan reportedly views Daud Ali as a China expert and believes he played a key role in drafting the controversial paragraph. The resulting discomfort led the government to recall him to Dhaka prior to the Prime Minister’s departure. Furthermore, bilateral discussions are ongoing regarding several long-term strategic agreements where Tokyo has requested strict confidentiality, providing another reason behind the decision.

Several current and former diplomats have expressed surprise at the sudden recall, calling it unusual. They questioned why allegations or dissatisfaction regarding Daud Ali’s role were not investigated earlier instead of taking action right on the eve of the Prime Minister’s official visit.

Through a ministry letter issued on October 15, Daud Ali was instructed to return to Dhaka immediately. In his place, Foreign Ministry Secretary Md Nazrul Islam has been sent to Tokyo to oversee coordination and preparation. Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam noted that during the Prime Minister’s October 26–29 visit, bilateral discussions will focus on trade, investment, infrastructure development, skilled labor export, and economic cooperation, with three to four MoUs expected to be signed out of eight under preparation.

This is not the first time Daud Ali has faced a sudden recall. In 2009, while serving as a counselor at the Bangladesh High Commission in London, he was recalled following a National Security Intelligence (NSI) report submitted to the Prime Minister’s Office regarding alleged assistance to Tarique Rahman during his stay in London. He was subsequently posted as Vice Principal of the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka. Nearly 17 years later, the diplomat finds himself recalled once again ahead of a foreign trip by the Prime Minister.

Daud Ali, a 15th batch BCS (Foreign Affairs) officer, is set to enter Post Retirement Leave (PRL) on December 7. Appointed during the interim government on December 12, 2024, he previously served as ambassador to Romania and Director General (Consular and Welfare) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, along with  mission postings in Tokyo, Pretoria, London, and as Consul General in Kunming, China.

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