As Prime Minister Tarique Rahman launched his four-day official tour to Tokyo—meeting senior Japanese officials and business leaders—one person was absent from the proceedings: Bangladesh’s Ambassador to Japan, Daud Ali.

Last week, Daily Waadaa broke the news that Ambassador Daud Ali had been recalled to Dhaka ahead of the Prime Minister’s visit to Tokyo, preventing him from joining the Bangladeshi leader on his first official trip to the Far East nation.

A week later, as the Prime Minister began his tour of Japan, the reason for the envoy's removal remains unclear, despite speculation in local Bengali-language dailies.

Unverified reports have suggested a range of reasons, including alleged ties to Jamaat-e-Islami, claims that Tokyo lodged a formal complaint against him with Dhaka, or incompetence.

Official sources have refused to comment on the matter. Ambassador Daud Ali, who is scheduled to retire from diplomatic service in December, has also declined to make any public statement.

Waadaa spoke with several individuals familiar with the situation, who rejected rumors that Tokyo had expressed dissatisfaction with the envoy.

"Those spreading this narrative simply do not understand how diplomatic protocol functions. Tokyo would never take such a step unless bilateral relations had severely deteriorated," one source noted.

Another theory involves Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman's visit to Japan in May of this year. Some media outlets reported that the opposition leader received support and a warm reception from the Bangladeshi Embassy in Tokyo.

A source revealed that senior Foreign Ministry officials in Dhaka had instructed the ambassador to extend official support—including dedicated support staff—to Dr. Shafiq, who serves as the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, during his week-long tour of Japan.

The ambassador was also directed to host a dinner reception for the visiting politician. Sources confirmed that the ambassador held a private dinner with the opposition leader, excluding other diplomatic staff and members of the delegation.

Meanwhile, an official speaking on the condition of anonymity suggested that Daud Ali’s ties to former Foreign Affairs Adviser Touhid Hossain may have been a factor.

"That relationship could have played a role in his recall," the official said. Daud Ali previously served as Deputy High Commissioner in South Africa between 2012 and 2014, when Touhid Hossain was serving as High Commissioner.

Others question whether this working relationship was significant enough to trigger an abrupt recall. "If that were the primary issue, why wasn't he recalled back in February, immediately following the departure of the Interim Government?" a source pointed out.

One source also drew attention to an episode in 2009, when Daud Ali was reportedly recalled from the Bangladesh High Commission in London over alleged connections with Tarique Rahman, who was then living in the British capital.

According to at least two sources from the Foreign Ministry, an intelligence assessment had accused the diplomat of assisting Tarique, prompting his return to Dhaka and subsequent posting at the Foreign Service Academy.

The allegation has not been independently verified by Waadaa, and there is no established connection between that episode and his latest recall.

Several foreign service officers and members of the Bangladeshi diaspora have defended Daud Ali's track record, praising his diplomatic service both in Japan and during his previous posting in Romania.

"He played a pivotal role in opening up the Romanian manpower market for tens of thousands of Bangladeshi workers," one source recalled.

Foreign Ministry figures reported at the time show that fewer than 500 Bangladeshis travelled to Romania for employment in 2020, compared with approximately 2,500 in 2021 and 14,500 in 2022.

During Daud Ali's tenure, Romania also sent consular teams to Dhaka to process thousands of work visas. In July 2022, the ambassador met officials in Romania's Arad County to explore recruitment opportunities for Bangladeshi workers, particularly in industries facing labour shortages.

His diplomatic efforts helped facilitate access to a labour market that had previously attracted relatively few Bangladeshis.

Another observer added, "The recruitment of Bangladeshi skilled and technical workers in Japan also gained significant momentum under Daud Ali's tenure as envoy in Tokyo."

Japan also witnessed an increase in its Bangladeshi population during Daud Ali's tenure. Figures published by the Bangladesh Embassy showed that the number of Bangladeshis residing in Japan rose from 31,536 in June 2024 to 40,045 in June 2025, an increase of approximately 27%.

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