Irene Khan to head Bangladesh Mission at UN, AKM Wahiduzzaman named deputy

Bangladesh has appointed Irene Khan, the current UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, as the next Permanent Representative to the United Nations, according to a senior government source familiar with the decision.

Khan is expected to assume the post next month after completing her tenure as UN Special Rapporteur.

One of Bangladesh's most prominent international figures, the 69-year-old previously served for eight years as Secretary General of Amnesty International before becoming Director-General of the International Development Law Organization (IDLO), an intergovernmental organisation based in Rome. 

She has also been an outspoken advocate for freedom of expression and human rights, publicly supporting photographer Shahidul Alam and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus during the rule of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina.

According to sources, the appointment followed discussions with the BNP-led government headed by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, after which Khan agreed to take up what is regarded as Bangladesh's most prestigious diplomatic posting abroad. 

She is currently overseas and is expected to return to Dhaka next week to complete the remaining formalities.

Khan brings extensive experience within the UN system, having served for six years as Special Rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression. She studied law at the University of Manchester and later completed postgraduate studies at Harvard Law School.

The Foreign Ministry has also decided to appoint senior BNP leader AKM Wahiduzzaman Apollo as a Deputy Permanent Representative to Bangladesh's UN Mission. 

Apollo, who played a prominent role in the party's opposition to the Hasina government and headed its ICT and environment affairs, is expected to assume his responsibilities shortly.

A senior Foreign Ministry official said Bangladesh will, for the first time, have two deputy permanent representatives at its UN mission.

According to the official, one deputy will assist Dr Khalilur Rahman in his responsibilities related to the Presidency of the UN General Assembly, while the other will be a career diplomat.

"We wanted both a political appointee and a career diplomat to serve as deputy permanent representatives," the official said.