In a dramatic and unforeseen move, Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Syed Ahmed Maroof, was summoned back to Islamabad on “indefinite leave” on May 11.
The hasty recall of the senior diplomat — barely 18 months into his tenure — is reportedly tied to a scandalous liaison with a 23-year-old Bangladesh bank official, which has rocked both diplomatic and intelligence circles in Dhaka.
According to high-level sources, Maroof, in his late 50s, became entangled in a controversial relationship with Hafiza Haque Shah, an assistant director at the Central Bank. The affair, which had long been whispered about within diplomatic corridors, erupted into public view during his May 9–10 visit to the coastal town of Cox’s Bazar, where he allegedly stayed with Hafiza at a local hotel. His trip also reportedly included meetings with operatives of Jamaat-e-Islami and the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA)—two groups under international scrutiny for their links to extremism.
Maroof, who had assumed his post on December 7, 2023, left Dhaka at 7:37 PM on May 11, boarding an Emirates flight to Islamabad via Dubai. Notably, he departed in civilian attire — T-shirt and jeans — triggering further speculation.
Bangladesh intelligence sources confirmed that the relationship between Maroof and Hafiza had been under surveillance for months. “Hafiza was a regular visitor to the Pakistan High Commission,” an intelligence officer revealed, adding, “The embassy staff were well aware of their illicit connection but were biding their time for strategic reasons.”
The tipping point came during the Cox’s Bazar trip, where their interactions reportedly crossed the threshold of plausible deniability. “The scandal became too conspicuous to suppress. Faced with a potential diplomatic embarrassment, Pakistan had no choice but to withdraw one of its key operatives from Bangladeshi soil,” the officer added.
Sources also noted that the recall was so urgent that Maroof was not even granted time for routine departure preparations. “He was discreetly ushered out of the embassy compound in casual clothes — no protocol, no formalities. This was a damage control operation,” said another senior intelligence official of Bangladesh government.
The timing of Maroof’s exit has also raised eyebrows among officials in Bangladesh’s interim administration. With the country navigating a politically sensitive period marked by the resurgence of Islamic extremist elements, Maroof’s presence had taken on strategic significance for Islamabad.
“Maroof was never just a diplomat,” said a senior Bangladeshi government source. “He was Pakistan’s ideological bridgehead in Bangladesh. Over the last nine months, he had been crisscrossing the nation, convening meetings, engaging with fringe groups, and shaping a network designed to reassert Pakistani influence through soft power and ideological infiltration.”
The source further added that Maroof’s influence extended beyond diplomacy. “He was giving interviews, forging connections with politically volatile groups and positioning himself as a key player in the emerging political landscape of Bangladesh. His sudden withdrawal suggests an abrupt halt to a carefully crafted operatio,” he said.
Follow us
