Another Bangladesh ambassador is facing allegations of serious misconduct as a Bangladesh-born Greek citizen alleged that she was sexually harassed by Ambassador Golam Mohammad several times.
“The government has received the allegation and is going to send a team to Greece very soon to investigate the matter,” said an official of the Foreign Ministry yesterday.
The team, led by Maritime Unit Affairs Secretary Md Khurshed Alam, is set to visit Greece this month. In the recent years, at least four ambassadors were recalled following allegations of massive financial irregularities and sexual misconduct. Last month, the Foreign Ministry recalled Bangladesh Ambassador to Lebanon AFM Gousul Azam Sarker for failing to run the mission properly.
The Bangladesh-born Greek woman, who works with the International Organisation for Migration mission in Greece, alleged that Golam Mohammad made indecent proposal on several occasions when her husband was out of Greece, said the Foreign Ministry official.
She also alleged that the ambassador had harassed her sexually when she had visited his residence on invitation. Golam Mohammad’s wife was not in Greece at that time.
“The victim sent a letter, elaborating the ordeals, to her IOM mission chief. It was forwarded to the Foreign Ministry, seeking proper action,” the official said.
In the letter, the victim says when she repeatedly rejected the indecent proposals of the ambassador, he threatened her with dire consequences.
When contacted, Golam Mohammad refuted all the allegations and said: “Let the investigation team come and unearth what the truth is.” The ambassador said he had faced similar allegations earlier but nothing against him had been proved. Earlier, ambassador AKM Majibur Rahman Bhuiyan was recalled from Japan over allegations of sexually harassing a Japanese woman working at Bangladesh’s Tokyo mission.
Former ambassador to Uzbekistan Hasib Aziz was sent on forced retirement as he had married a foreigner without the consent of the president of Bangladesh as per the law.
Former Bangladesh ambassador to the Philippines Majeda Rafiq Unnesa was recalled as the government had found massive financial irregularities in the Manila mission. She has been made OSD (officer on special duty) while the Anti-Corruption Commission has filed a case against her.
Md Shamsul Haque was involved in financial irregularities while serving as the Bangladesh consul general in New York. He is also facing ACC charges.
“Hundreds of good officers are working in the Foreign Ministry but only because of a few the image of the ministry and the country has been tarnished,” said a senior official of the ministry.