M. Serajul Islam
M. Serajul Islam was a Bangladeshi diplomat and former ambassador of Bangladesh to Japan.[1] He was the ambassador of Bangladesh to Egypt.[2] He worked as the Director of the Centre for Foreign Affairs Studies.[3]
Early life
Islam was born on 27 April 1947.[4] He did his bachelors and masters in political science at the University of Dhaka in 1968 and 1969 respectively.[5] He was the captain of the Dhaka University Tennis Team.[5]
Career
Islam joined the foreign service of Pakistan and moved to the Bangladesh Foreign Service after the Independence of Bangladesh.[5] He was a lecturer of political science at the University of Dhaka.[5] He served in diplomatic missions in China, India, and the United States.[5] He was the Director General of South Asia wing and the Far East wing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.[5]
From 1998 to 2002, Islam served as the ambassador of Bangladesh to Egypt.[5] On 31 July 2002, Islam was appointed ambassador of Bangladesh to Japan replacing Jamil Majid.[6]
In 2008, Islam expressed critical opinions on foreign diplomats violating norms in Dhaka by engaging in politics and activism, especially against the Bangladesh Nationalist Party government.[7]
Islam was the Director of the Centre for Foreign Affairs Studies.[8] On Islamic extremism and terrorism, he said "There is no reason for complacency about Islamic terrorism in Bangladesh but no reason to cry wolf either".[8] In 2009, he called for the establishment of a National Security Council of Bangladesh.[9] He accused the government of Myanmar of committing genocide and ethnic cleansing against the Rohingya People comparing it to what Bangladeshis faced during the Bangladesh genocide.[10][11]
Islam warned Awami League not to repeat the 2014 election in 2018 as it would destroy multiparty democracy in Bangladesh and expressed his support for the Jatiya Oikya Front.[12][13] He was an executive director of the Southeast Bank Limited.[14]
Death
Islam died on 11 August 2024 in Washington D.C., United States.[4][15]
References
- ^ "A dream diplomat". The Daily Star. 2008-12-12. Retrieved 2025-02-14.
- ^ "Alarm bells on the eastern border". The Daily Star. 2009-10-16. Retrieved 2025-02-14.
- ^ "Bangladesh, conspiracy theories and unraveling truth". The Daily Star. 2009-04-04. Retrieved 2025-02-14.
- ^ a b "M Serajul Islam: a voice of truth against tyranny". www.newagebd.net. Archived from the original on 2024-12-16. Retrieved 2025-02-14.
- ^ a b c d e f g "The Dhaka Forum - Ambassador M. Serajul Islam". www.thedhakaforum.org. Retrieved 2025-02-14.
- ^ Team, Embassies info. "List of ambassadors of Bangladesh to Japan". embassies.info. Retrieved 2025-02-13.
- ^ "Responsibility of diplomats in the host country". The Daily Star. 2008-04-04. Retrieved 2025-02-14.
- ^ a b "Religious terrorism and Bangladesh". The Daily Star. 2008-07-26. Retrieved 2025-02-14.
- ^ "National Security Council for Bangladesh". The Daily Star. 2008-05-03. Retrieved 2025-02-14.
- ^ "Rohingya issue and concerns for Bangladesh". The Daily Star. 2017-09-19. Retrieved 2025-02-14.
- ^ "Launch diplomatic offensive". The Daily Star. 2017-09-10. Retrieved 2025-02-14.
- ^ "Dissolve JS before polls schedule". The Daily Star. 2018-10-28. Retrieved 2025-02-14.
- ^ "'Don't stay home'". The Daily Star. 2018-12-29. Retrieved 2025-02-14.
- ^ "Serajul joins SEBL as ED". today.thefinancialexpress.com.bd. Retrieved 2025-02-14.
- ^ "Ambassador M Serajul Islam remembered". New Age (Bangladesh). 24 August 2024. Retrieved 14 February 2025.