The Voice News:Amid intense debate over a proposed UN-supervised humanitarian corridor in Rakhine, the Government of Bangladesh has ordered its ambassador to Myanmar, Md. Monwar Hossain, to return to Dhaka “without delay.” An official directive from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs instructs the ambassador to return within the week. The information has been confirmed by reliable diplomatic sources in Dhaka and Naypyidaw.
Senior government officials confirmed the withdrawal. A few weeks earlier, Bangladesh had also recalled its military adviser stationed in Myanmar. However, no replacements have yet been appointed for either position.
Md. Monwar Hossain, who assumed the role of ambassador in August 2023, was a top-ranking diplomat from the 20th batch of the BCS and succeeded former ambassador Manjurul Karim Khan. His sudden recall, particularly amid the ongoing corridor debate, has sparked widespread discussion in diplomatic circles.
The proposal for a humanitarian corridor in Rakhine has triggered considerable criticism within Bangladesh. Controversy erupted after interim Foreign Affairs Advisor Md. Tawhid Hossain expressed the government’s “policy-level support” for the plan on April 27. Despite reassurances from the Yunus administration, the military’s stance, and objections from the National Security Advisor, the debate has only intensified. Critics allege that the corridor may secretly benefit the Arakan Army in Rakhine.
The successive withdrawal of Bangladesh’s military adviser and now its ambassador has further fueled such speculation. Diplomatic analysts believe the move could indicate growing pressure from Myanmar’s junta on Bangladesh. It also suggests that the complexities surrounding the corridor issue may be deeper than publicly acknowledged.
There are strong rumors that Myanmar may have declared the Bangladeshi ambassador persona non grata, effectively expelling him—though no official confirmation of this has been made available.
This development raises fresh concerns about Bangladesh-Myanmar relations, particularly against the backdrop of the Rohingya crisis and ongoing border tensions. While the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has yet to issue a formal statement, the withdrawal has stirred considerable debate both domestically and internationally.