M. Serajul Islam

M. Serajul Islam
Ambassador of Bangladesh to Japan
In office
31 July 2002 – 17 April 2006
Preceded byJamil Majid
Succeeded byAshraf-ud-Doula
Ambassador of Bangladesh to Egypt
In office
3 June 1999 – 15 July 2002[1]
Preceded byM. Ruhul Amin
Succeeded byMahmood Hasan
Personal details
Born(1947-04-27)27 April 1947
Died11 August 2024(2024-08-11) (aged 77)
Washington D.C., United States
NationalityBangladeshi
Alma materUniversity of Dhaka

M. Serajul Islam (27 April 1947 – 11 August 2024) was a Bangladeshi diplomat and former ambassador of Bangladesh to Japan.[2] He was the ambassador of Bangladesh to Egypt.[3] He worked as the Director of the Centre for Foreign Affairs Studies.[4]

Early life

Islam was born on 27 April 1947.[5] He did his bachelor's and master's in political science at the University of Dhaka in 1968 and 1969 respectively.[6] He was the captain of the Dhaka University Tennis Team.[6]

Career

Islam joined the foreign service of Pakistan and moved to the Bangladesh Foreign Service after the Independence of Bangladesh.[6] He was a lecturer of political science at the University of Dhaka.[6] He served in diplomatic missions in China, India, and the United States.[6] He was the Director General of South Asia wing and the Far East wing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.[6]

From 1998 to 2002, Islam served as the ambassador of Bangladesh to Egypt.[6] On 31 July 2002, Islam was appointed ambassador of Bangladesh to Japan replacing Jamil Majid.[7]

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.[8]

Islam was the Director of the Centre for Foreign Affairs Studies.[9] 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".[9] In 2009, he called for the establishment of a National Security Council of Bangladesh.[10] 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.[11][12]

Islam warned the 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.[13][14] He was an executive director of the Southeast Bank Limited.[15]

Death

Islam died on 11 August 2024 in Washington D.C., United States.[5][16]

References

  1. ^ "Roll of honour". Bangladesh National Portal. Retrieved 2025-11-13.
  2. ^ "A dream diplomat". The Daily Star. 2008-12-12. Retrieved 2025-02-14.
  3. ^ "Alarm bells on the eastern border". The Daily Star. 2009-10-16. Retrieved 2025-02-14.
  4. ^ "Bangladesh, conspiracy theories and unraveling truth". The Daily Star. 2009-04-04. Retrieved 2025-02-14.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g "The Dhaka Forum - Ambassador M. Serajul Islam". www.thedhakaforum.org. Retrieved 2025-02-14.
  7. ^ Team, Embassies info. "List of ambassadors of Bangladesh to Japan". embassies.info. Retrieved 2025-02-13.
  8. ^ "Responsibility of diplomats in the host country". The Daily Star. 2008-04-04. Retrieved 2025-02-14.
  9. ^ a b "Religious terrorism and Bangladesh". The Daily Star. 2008-07-26. Retrieved 2025-02-14.
  10. ^ "National Security Council for Bangladesh". The Daily Star. 2008-05-03. Retrieved 2025-02-14.
  11. ^ "Rohingya issue and concerns for Bangladesh". The Daily Star. 2017-09-19. Retrieved 2025-02-14.
  12. ^ "Launch diplomatic offensive". The Daily Star. 2017-09-10. Retrieved 2025-02-14.
  13. ^ "Dissolve JS before polls schedule". The Daily Star. 2018-10-28. Retrieved 2025-02-14.
  14. ^ "'Don't stay home'". The Daily Star. 2018-12-29. Retrieved 2025-02-14.
  15. ^ "Serajul joins SEBL as ED". today.thefinancialexpress.com.bd. Retrieved 2025-02-14.
  16. ^ "Ambassador M Serajul Islam remembered". New Age (Bangladesh). 24 August 2024. Retrieved 14 February 2025.