Bangladesh envoy to Japan effectively recalled ahead of PM Tarique's visit, sources say

Bangladesh's Ambassador to Japan, Md Daud Ali, has effectively been recalled to Dhaka ahead of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's official visit to Tokyo next week, multiple highly placed sources told Daily Waadaa.

Daud is currently in Dhaka, with the Foreign Ministry describing his presence as part of routine consultations.

However, multiple sources familiar with the development said the ambassador has "essentially" been recalled from his posting and will not be present in Tokyo during the prime minister's visit, scheduled for October 26–29.

The Foreign Ministry has not publicly announced his recall or removal from the ambassadorial position.

No reason has been disclosed for the reported decision, and it remains unclear whether Daud will be reassigned or replaced.

The development comes at a sensitive diplomatic moment, with Dhaka preparing for Tarique's first official visit to Japan as prime minister.

Japan's Foreign Ministry confirmed on October 20 that Tarique and his wife, Dr Zubaida Rahman, would visit the country from October 26 to 29.

He is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on October 27, followed by a luncheon hosted by his Japanese counterpart.

The visit is expected to focus on investment, trade, infrastructure, economic cooperation and the implementation of the Bangladesh-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement signed in February.

Daud is a career diplomat from the 15th batch of the Bangladesh Civil Service's Foreign Affairs cadre.

He joined the Foreign Ministry in November 1995 and has served in several important diplomatic assignments over the past three decades.

Before his posting to Japan, he served as Bangladesh's ambassador to Romania, with concurrent responsibilities for Moldova, North Macedonia and Bulgaria.

He was appointed ambassador to Romania in March 2020, during Sheikh Hasina's Awami League government.

Earlier, he served as Bangladesh's consul general in Kunming, China, and held diplomatic assignments in Tokyo, Pretoria and London.

At the Foreign Ministry headquarters, he served as director general of the Consular and Welfare Wing.

Daud obtained his master's degree in applied mathematics from Rajshahi University in 1989.  He assumed his current posting in Tokyo following the fall of the Awami League government.

The embassy's website continued to identify him as ambassador as of Thursday, October 22.