Foreign ministry says it can publish full text of letter with Jamaat ameer’s consent

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said it can publish the full text of the much-discussed letter if the leader of the opposition provides written consent.

The ministry issued the statement today following media reports about a letter dated February 22, in which Jamaat‑e‑Islami sought the appointment of its former foreign affairs adviser Prof Dr Mahmudul Hasan, as adviser at the foreign ministry with ministerial rank.

The ministry’s statement explained that Dr Mahmudul had sent the letter electronically and later delivered it in person to Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman, using the official letterhead of the leader of the opposition.

The letter praised Dr Mahmudul’s skills and recommended his appointment to the ministry to strengthen foreign policy engagement.

The ministry also rejected a newspaper claim that Jamaat had phoned the foreign minister to say the Jamaat ameer was unaware of the letter. “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs explicitly clarifies that no such phone conversation took place,” the statement said.

On March 10, Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar confirmed that Jamaat ameer and leader of the opposition Dr Shafiqur Rahman had relieved Dr Mahamudul of duties for exceeding instructions in drafting the letter. He was replaced by Barrister Mir Ahmad Bin Quasem (Arman), MP for Dhaka‑14, on March 2.