Dhaka – Pakistan on Tuesday urged Bangladesh authorities to withdraw its diplomat Maushumi Rahman within 48 hours without citing any reason.
Pakistan Foreign Ministry summoned the Bangladesh High Commissioner to Pakistan Suhrab Hossain in the afternoon and conveyed the message to Bangladesh authorities, a highly placed diplomatic source said.
Maushumi Rahman (Counselor Political) worked as acting High Commissioner to Pakistan when Suhrab Hossain was in Bangladesh.Bangladesh government will take a decision on the matter by Wednesday, said the source.
Another diplomatic source, however, said Maushumi will be given fresh diplomatic assignment to another country directly from Islamabad without bringing her back home as Pakistan has failed to show any reason.
The source said it is in fact in ‘retaliation’ for the withdrawal of Pakistani diplomat Fareena Arshad who left Dhaka with an allegation that she was involved in financing militancy.
Fareena who was the Second Secretary (Political) at the Pakistan High Commission in Dhaka and reportedly involved in financing militancy, left here for Islamabad on December 23 following her withdrawal.
According to different media reports, Fareena was involved in some militant groups, including Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) and an arrested militant confessed to his link with the diplomat before a Dhaka court recently.- Agencies
