The government would take appropriate steps if any foreign diplomat crosses the line, said Bangladesh's State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam on Monday (June 5, 2023). "There was such a phase six months ago. If it (crossing line) happens again, we will take steps taking that into cognisance. However, I am not aware of anything as of now," he said. Read more: ‘Undivided India’ map at new parliament: No reason for confusion, Dhaka waiting for official version from Delhi, says Shahriar Alam The State Minister made the remarks when a reporter drew his attention about Japanese Ambassador Iwama Kiminori’s visit to the Election Commission and his meeting with a political party. Read more: Exaggeration, inconsistency in Congressmen’s letter: Shahriar Alam Earlier, former Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Ito Naoki made comments on Bangladesh's last national election, and Bangladesh described Naoki's comments on Bangladesh's election "unexpected."

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Thursday told Parliament that the government has taken steps to prevent some foreign diplomats from remarking against the government regarding the internal affairs of Bangladesh before the media. "Some foreign ambassadors working in Bangladesh make statements against the government regarding the internal affairs of Bangladesh. Various measures have been taken to prevent them from giving such statements that go beyond etiquette," he said. Read more: Govt will guarantee full protection of all diplomats, says FM The minister said this while replying to a question from treasury bench lawmaker Abul Kalam Azad in the House. Momen said the diplomats who have commented on Bangladesh's internal affairs before journalists have been asked to explain their remarks. He said the diplomats concerned have been asked to clarify their stands and perform their responsibility following the diplomatic norms. The minister said the foreign envoys have been asked not to comment on the country's internal matters before the media rather to inform their words to the appropriate offices. "Some foreign diplomats have recently commented on the internal affairs of Bangladesh, which is tantamount to the interference into the internal affairs of an independent and sovereign country," he said. Read more: Media pursues diplomats to speak on Bangladesh’s internal affairs: Momen In reply to another question from Awami League MP Momota Hena Lovely, the Foreign Minister hoped that the foreign diplomats would refrain from joining the matters or events that is tantamount to the inference into the internal affairs of the country or something that creates controversy. But some of our institutions, especially the opposition parties and some media, encourage them to speak about their internal affairs time and again, which is not seen in other countries, he said. Referring to the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, the minister said the government will not prevent any foreign diplomats from attending any event that will help strengthen the bilateral relations. "Hopefully, the diplomats will maintain diplomatic etiquette in these events and refrain from making any comments that would be amount to interference in the internal affairs of Bangladesh," he said.

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader today (December 26, 2022) said the government will resolve internal issues of the country and foreign diplomats have to abide by the rules. The minister said this while talking to reporters at his ministry’s conference room at the Secretariat. Read: Get ready to face defeat: Obaidul to BNP “Foreign diplomats will not put anyone in office, the country’s people will. Foreign diplomats have to follow the (Convention) when they talk about internal affairs of our country. It’s the government who will solve the country’s problems, not them,” Quader said. Quader, also general secretary of ruling Awami League, added that the government does not tolerate “terrorist activities like torching vehicles and shops.” Read: Defeated forces resurrected to avenge: Obaidul Quader “We are always alert to prevent any kind of terrorism. We will take necessary steps if anyone creates chaos and causes public suffering. Law enforcement agencies are always active to tackle violence,” Quader added.

The International Affairs sub-committee of Bangladesh Awami League hosted an Iftar on Friday at a hotel in the capital in honor of foreign diplomats stationed here. Ambassadors, High Commissioners and Head of Missions including Indian High Commissioner Vikram Kumar Doraiswami, Chinese Ambassador Li Jiming, US Ambassador Peter Haas, Russian Ambassador Aleksandr Mantytsky, Japanese Ambassador Ito Naoki, Australian High Commissioner Jeremy Bruer Jeremy Bruer, Turkish Ambassador Mustafa Osman Turan, German Ambassador Achim Tröster, Ambassador of Switzerland Nathalie Chuard, Charge d'Affaires at European Union Embassy and diplomats from Malaysia and Morocco joined. Also read:Thai Embassy organises Songkran Festival 2022 Awami League general secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader attended the iftar as the chief guest. Information and Broadcasting Minister Hasan Mahmud and State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md. Shahriar Alam also attended the event while International Affairs Secretary of AL Shammi Ahmed welcomed the guests. Central AL leaders, senior journalists, representatives from the international organizations and members of the International Affairs sub-committee of Bangladesh Awami League attended the iftar.

Bangladesh does not want its foreign friends make comment on its domestic affairs including on election issues. It, however, sees nothing wrong in having interest about Bangladesh affairs by development partners, the foreign secretary said. Bangladesh also wants to draw a line between showing interest in  Dhaka's affairs and giving “lecture” as the country sees comments from diplomats on election issues.   Read: US donates another 6.2m Covid jabs to Bangladesh “Naturally, since they’re all our development partners, they might have interest,” said Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen, noting that having interest and giving lecture are not the same thing. While responding to questions from reporters recently, the foreign secretary said the government will definitely warn them (foreign diplomats) if they cross the limit. Recently, a number of diplomats made comments on impending national elections and in some cases, the diplomats responded only when reporters sought comments.     “If you keep seeking comments from foreigners on our own elections, they’ll feel encouraged to make comments,” said the FS adding that the diplomats are making comments as reporters are seeking their comments. Masud Momen said they remain in touch with the diplomats based in Dhaka constantly and they sit with them on various issues. Read:Will take ties with Dhaka to even higher level: Jaishankar “We’ll never want see any foreign country’s interference in our domestic affairs,” he added. “We all need to be more tolerant and we need to behave in such a way so that we can resolve those issues internally, if there is any problem, before we talk to the foreigners.”   One of the diplomats - British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Robert Chatterton Dickson – has recently said with international partners, they support the “plural and transparent” democracy in Bangladesh provided in the Constitution, including urging a “fair and credible” process for the elections due at the end of 2023.

The vaccination campaign for foreign diplomats began in Bangladesh on Wednesday, with over 30 getting vaccinated on the opening day.

A special North Korean flight carrying presumably dozens of diplomats and other foreigners arrived in Russia's Far East on Monday, as the North tightens a lockdown intended to fend off the coronavirus.