Controversy surrounds DU VC Niaz, Yunus’ ambassador Lamia and Siddiqui sister’s ambassadorial proposal

Staff Correspondent

In the next step of the interim government, the process of appointing the 30th Vice-Chancellor of Dhaka University, Dr. Niaz Ahmed Khan, as the ambassador to Denmark is underway. The government has sent an AGREEMENT seeking Copenhagen’s consent. However, clearance has not yet been received from Denmark.

Officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the appointment process of Dr. Niaz Ahmed Khan is almost complete. It may take 1-3 months to get the AGREEMENT.

At the same time, Lamia Morshed, the special envoy to the chief advisor, Lutfe Siddiqui, the special envoy for international affairs, and her sister Husna Siddiqui have also been proposed as ambassadors. However, this proposal has created controversy.

A special source in the Office of the Chief Advisor claims that the proposed ones have acquired higher educational qualifications from recognized institutions of the country. Dr. Niaz is serving as the Vice-Chancellor of Dhaka University. Lamia is the former Executive Director of Morshed Yunus Center, while Lutfe and Husna Siddiqui have accumulated long experience in the fields of administration and information technology, respectively.

However, allegations have been made that, beyond the professional qualifications of the proposed candidates, family relationships and the influence of the interim government’s benefits have dominated the appointment process.

A senior diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, “Most of those proposed for the ambassadorial post are ‘butter eaters’, have enjoyed government benefits for a long time, and now there is an attempt to increase the financial and social benefits of this post.”

A former student of Chittagong University and currently the head of a large industrial company, on condition of anonymity, said, “Dr. Niaz was our batchmate. He used to do politics for the secret organization Shibir at CU, he is a terrible person as a notorious bloodthirsty leader. He has a history of ruthless oppression and violence against leftist organizations including Chhatra League and Chhatra Union. I was shocked when he was appointed as the Vice-Chancellor at DU.”

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has vacant or soon-to-be vacant ambassadorial/high commissioner posts in Singapore, The Hague, Thimphu, Yangon and Tehran, in addition to Denmark. However, no formal filework has yet been initiated on the appointments of the proposed ones, other than policy-making discussions.

Questions have been raised about the appointment of Lutfe Siddiqui and Husna Siddiqui, who are both ambassadors. Lutfe Siddiqui is enjoying the salary and benefits of an advisor. Husna Siddiqui, who is working as an executive director of KPMG International Services Limited in the Netherlands, is interested in becoming an ambassador in the Netherlands or Singapore.

Lamia Morshed’s preference is for a European country, although there are no vacancies there. The government is saying that it is possible to implement the recruitment using political and social influence in special cases.

A section of professional diplomats complain that the proposed external appointments to the ambassadorial post are limiting opportunities for professionals. They say such appointments will impact traditional diplomatic ratios and career progression.

This process and debate over the appointment of ambassadors will provide a clearer picture in the coming weeks.