Pakistan summons Bangladesh envoy

Diplomatic tension has further surfaced between Dhaka and Islamabad after Pakistan summoned the Bangladesh High Commissioner Suhrab Hossain this afternoon.

When contacted, Suhrab Hossain confirmed The Daily Star that he was summoned by the Pakistan Foreign Ministry Monday afternoon.

He, however, did not elaborate about the latest development and reason behind summoning him.

A source in Islamabad said an Additional Secretary at the Pakistan Foreign Ministry summoned the Bangladesh envoy when the Director General of South Asian wing was present.

Diplomatic sources in Dhaka seems the Pakistani move is “completely” a retaliation following summon of Pakistan High Commissioner in Dhaka Shuja Alam on February 2 after a staffer of Bangladesh mission in Islamabad remained for about seven hours.

Though the Pakistan plainclothesmen picked up press wing official Jahangir Hossain and harassed him, but they did not reveal their identity, which the diplomatic circles termed “dangerous, alarming and matter of grave concern.”

The plainclothesmen had also covered his face with a black mask. Later, they dropped him off at an unknown place after midnight and returned his ID card, cell phone and motorbike.

Whereas the Detective Branch of police when detained Pakistan High Commission staff Abrar Ahmed Khan on February 1 were in uniformed and he was in police custody.

Dhaka and Islamabad in recent times witnessed escalation of diplomatic tension following Bangladesh last year asked Pakistan to take back two of its diplomats stationed in Dhaka for their direct involvement in terror financing and circulating fake Indian currency.

A day after Fareena flew back home, the Pakistan Foreign Ministry twice summoned the Bangladesh envoy in Islamabad to lodge protest against the recent "treatment meted out to its diplomat" in Dhaka.

Fareena, who was the second secretary (political) at the Pakistan High Commission in Dhaka, had close connections and did financial transactions with some militant groups, including Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh, according to a recent confession of a JMB militant.

Pakistan on January 5 last asked Bangladesh to withdraw its senior diplomat Moushumi Rahman from the country in 48 hours, without citing any reason.

The move appears to be a counter-action from Islamabad following the withdrawal of its diplomat Fareena Arshad from Dhaka on December 23 last year after she was accused of terror financing.

On January 31, Pakistan recalled its diplomatic official Mazhar Khan for his alleged links with terror financing and currency forgery racket. hours.

Though the Pakistan plainclothesmen picked up press wing official Jahangir Hossain and harassed him, but they did not reveal their identity, which the diplomatic circles termed “dangerous, alarming and matter of grave concern.”

The plainclothesmen had also covered his face with a black mask. Later, they dropped him off at an unknown place after midnight and returned his ID card, cell phone and motorbike.

Whereas the Detective Branch of police when detained Pakistan High Commission staff Abrar Ahmed Khan on February 1 were in uniformed and he was in police custody.

Dhaka and Islamabad in recent times witnessed escalation of diplomatic tension following Bangladesh last year asked Pakistan to take back two of its diplomats stationed in Dhaka for their direct involvement in terror financing and circulating fake Indian currency.

A day after Fareena flew back home, the Pakistan Foreign Ministry twice summoned the Bangladesh envoy in Islamabad to lodge protest against the recent "treatment meted out to its diplomat" in Dhaka.

Fareena, who was the second secretary (political) at the Pakistan High Commission in Dhaka, had close connections and did financial transactions with some militant groups, including Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh, according to a recent confession of a JMB militant.

Pakistan on January 5 last asked Bangladesh to withdraw its senior diplomat Moushumi Rahman from the country in 48 hours, without citing any reason.

The move appears to be a counter-action from Islamabad following the withdrawal of its diplomat Fareena Arshad from Dhaka on December 23 last year after she was accused of terror financing.

On January 31, Pakistan recalled its diplomatic official Mazhar Khan for his alleged links with terror financing and currency forgery racket.