In a sudden development, Bangladesh’s interim government on Thursday revoked the transfer order of Shabab Bin Ahmed, a senior diplomat currently serving as Minister (Local) at the Bangladesh Embassy in The Hague. Ahmed was originally due to assume office as Deputy High Commissioner in Kolkata by June but has now been instructed to return to the Foreign Ministry headquarters.
The decision follows growing controversy over a verbal directive reportedly issued by Ahmed prior to officially taking up his post. Mission insiders revealed that Ahmed instructed staff at the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata to cancel the long-standing tradition of performing Qurbani (ritual animal sacrifice) during Eid-ul-Azha.
Issued before his formal appointment on June 2, the directive sparked criticism within diplomatic circles and among mission staff. Ahmed defended the move, explaining that it was made out of respect for local sentiments, noting that most security personnel at the mission are Hindu and consider cows sacred.
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“Earning the confidence of our host country is extremely important,” he told Bangladesh’s foreign ministry. “We must be mindful of their religious beliefs. Besides, no other Bangladeshi mission abroad performs Qurbani. There are also sanitation concerns and a Calcutta High Court order against public animal slaughter.”
However, the decision faced significant opposition. Officials questioned both the timing and authority of the directive, pointing out that Ahmed had yet to formally assume his position. A senior diplomat commented, “This is diplomatically and politically unwise. Religious and cultural matters should be addressed with consultation, not unilaterally.”
For more than 30 years, the Kolkata mission has conducted Qurbani during Eid-ul-Azha, traditionally distributing the meat to local orphanages and Muslim community members. “Many officials view the practice as a symbol of religious harmony, especially under the administration of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who has consistently championed pluralism and tolerance. The Qurbani at our mission has always reflected the spirit of interfaith respect that defines West Bengal. Abruptly discontinuing it sends the wrong message,” said a staff member of the Deputy High Commission in Kolkata.
As the Foreign Ministry reassesses the situation, Ahmed’s future posting remains uncertain.
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