The US Embassy in Dhaka has recently requested the Foreign Ministry for taking actions action against three government officials who were allegedly trying to go to the USA showing fake invitation letters. Foreign Ministry sources said the US Embassy in Dhaka detected that the trio was trying to go the USA submitting invitations which were ‘incorrect’ and ‘has no origin’. The three government officials are Deputy Secretary of Posts and Telecommunications Ministry Mahbubul Alam, Member (Admin) of Bangladesh Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (BTRC) M Shah Newaz and BTRC Director M Shahab Uddin. The US Embassy informed the Foreign Ministry about the matter expressing concern over issuing government orders (GOs) and note verbale in favour of their visa applications. The Posts and Telecommunications Ministry issued the GOs in favour of the officials approving their visit to the USA. The Foreign Ministry issued the ‘note verbale’ for M Shah Newaz and M Shahab Uddin on December 17, 2013, while issued the ‘note verbale’ for Mahbubul Alam on December 19, 2013. While scrutinising the visa applications and the supporting documents, the US Embassy found out that the invitation letters were ‘incorrect’ and ‘has no origin’. They brought the matter to the notice of the Foreign Ministry and requested for taking appropriate actions in this regard. The US Embassy said visa-related matters are involved with the security of any country and they are also very much aware about it. Following the US Embassy’s request, the Foreign Ministry sent a letter to the Posts and Telecommunications Ministry on March 24. The letter, signed by Director (Consular) of the Foreign Ministry M Abul Hasan Mridha requested the Posts and Telecommunications Ministry to report back about what actions have been taken against the three officials. – UNB
