DHAKA, May 22, 2025 (BSS) - The government today assigned M Ruhul Alam Siddique with the task of carrying out the routine responsibilities of foreign secretary as incumbent top foreign office bureaucrat Jashim Uddin quit.

“A decision has been made that until further order Mr. M Ruhul Alam Siddique will discharge the routine tasks of foreign secretary against the backdrop of foreign secretary Mr Jashim Uddin’s relinquishment of responsibilities,” read a foreign ministry office order.

The brief order, signed by foreign ministry director general M Abul Hasn Mridha said it would be effective from May 23 and it was issued in public interest.

The interim government appointed career diplomat Jashim Uddin as the country’s 27th foreign secretary in September last year, a month after the ouster of the Awami League regime.

He had joined Bangladesh Foreign Service in 1994 as an officer of 13th batch of BCS (Foreign Affairs) Cadre and subsequently served extensively both at home and abroad.

The order came a day after foreign adviser Md Touhid Hossain said that Jashim Uddin had expressed his intention to relinquish his current responsibilities, and this was not an issue “removal”.

“He (Jashim) wants to leave this responsibility for various reasons. He remains in government service, so the role will shift — but there is no issue of dismissal,” he said.

Asked who would succeed Jashim Uddin, the adviser said “you will come to know in few days”.

But officials familiar with the process said Bangladesh Ambassador to the United States Asad Alam Siam was being considered as the 28th Foreign Secretary.