Bangladesh PM staffers humiliate Saudi ambassador
March 22, 2012
Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Bangladesh, Dr. Abudllah Al Bussairy was greatly humiliated by the staffers at the official resident of the Prime Minister of Bangladesh. The Saudi ambassador in Bangladesh, who enjoys high repute being an excellent individual and a genuine friend of Bangladesh, went to meet the Bangladeshi Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina during afternoon of March 21, 2012, as per appointment set through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bangladesh.
The ambassador wrote a letter to the foreign ministry several days back seeking appointment with the Bangladeshi Prime Minister.
On receiving the letter, the foreign ministry accordingly informed the Saudi ambassador to meet the Bangladeshi Prime Minister during afternoon of March 20, 2012.
Accordingly the ambassador went at the official residence of the Bangladesh Prime Minister and the security personnel at the gate informed him that there had been no appointment for him to meet the Prime Minister.
At this stage, the ambassador had to return from the PM residence without seeing her, which is surely a huge humiliation to an important envoy of a friendly country like Saudi Arabia, which is one of the largest donors of Bangladesh.
It may also be mentioned here that Saudi Arabia employs more than two millions Bangladesh workers in various projects in that country.
Relations between Dhaka and Jeddah became tensed following the recent murder of the Saudi diplomat in Bangladesh, Khalaf bin Mohammed Salem-al Ali. Though weeks have already passed since the murder of Khalaf bin Mohammed Salem-al Ali, there is no sign of any headway in the investigation by the Bangladeshi intelligence agencies in identifying the killers. Days before the murder of Khalaf bin Mohammed Salem-al Ali, a spy of Indian Border Security Force were arrested by Bangladeshi border guards with arms and ammunitions. It was further learnt that a number of BSF spies had earlier entered Bangladesh territory secretly. Bangladeshi foreign minister Dipu Moni is now in Saudi Arabia with the hope of meeting several top ranking government officials to elaborate the investigation process of the murdered Saudi diplomat Khalaf bin Mohammed Salem-al Ali. Saudi ambassador in Dhaka, Dr. Abudllah Al Bussairy has also left Bangladesh for Saudi Arabia on March 21 evening to join Bangladeshi foreign minister's meetings with Saudi high-ups. Diplomatic analysts feel that the latest humiliation of the Saudi ambassador at the gate of the official residence of the Bangladeshi Prime Minister may contribute in further complicating Dhaka-Jeddah relations. Many accuse the inefficiency and lack of responsibility of the foreign ministry in Dhaka for such unhealthy situation.
It may be recalled here that, Khalaf bin Mohammed Salem al-Ali [45], the diplomat with the Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was gunned down by unidentified miscreants during late hours of March 5, 2012 in the capital city of Bangladesh. This is the first time in the history of Bangladesh that a diplomat has been murdered in the capital city. Following this tragic murder, the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs requested higher protection for its staff in Bangladesh. It may be mentioned here that last year, the US government accused Iranian agents of being part of a foiled plot to kill Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the US, and Israel has accused Iran of attacks or attempted attacks on its diplomats in India, Thailand and Georgia this year. Iran has denied all of the accusations. In May 2011, gunmen in Karachi, Pakistan, killed a Saudi diplomat. Iranian embassy in Dhaka is also suspected for the murder of Khalaf bin Mohammed Salem al-Ali, as it had already been accused a number of times for killing Saudi diplomats as well as attacking diplomats from Israel, Saudi Arabia and other nations.
Bangladesh PM staffers humiliate Saudi ambassador :: Weekly Blitz