By Sunahwar Ali,
President, NRB Support Group UK
Former Chief Whip, Tower Hamlets Council
The recent recall of five ambassadors, including UK High Commissioner Abida Islam, has reopened a crucial debate about the state of our diplomatic missions. Announced on March 7, 2026, by the Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Humayun Kabir, this marks the first major reshuffle under the new government.
Humayun Kabir described the recall as
“good news,” stating that Abida Islam was removed for failing to serve the diaspora, engaging in “divisive conduct,”
and maintaining an Awami League-aligned stance.
While this may address immediate political concerns, we must ask:
are we focusing on the messenger, or the systemic problem?
As someone who has served the British-Bangladeshi community for decades, I have witnessed the slow erosion of trust between expatriates and the institutions meant to serve them.
The High Commission in London is not merely a diplomatic post; for hundreds of thousands of Bangladeshis, it is the face of our nation. And that face reflects the same dysfunctions we hoped to leave behind in Dhaka.
A Culture Transplanted
The High Commission operates with the same unresponsiveness, dismissiveness, and lack of accountability as any government office in Dhaka. The passport and visa section remains a glaring example.
It operates without comprehensive CCTV—a basic oversight tool—where applicants face rude staff and are charged £1 per page for photocopying without a receipt.
This petty corruption symbolises a much larger problem of unaccountability.
My Personal Experience:
A Complaint Ignored
In September 2022, I filed a formal complaint via the High Commission’s official channel about these very issues. I detailed concerns about service standards, staff behaviour, and the lack of transparency.
I never received a reply.
This silence is instructive.
It tells us that citizens are not seen as stakeholders to whom the state owes accountability. The attitude of “we answer to no one” is embedded in our institutional DNA.
The Price of Politicisation
When diplomatic postings are rewards for political loyalty rather than professional competence, the result is predictable. Officers arrive in London with a sense of entitlement, not a mission to serve.
Even more concerning, some long-serving, politically-connected staff wield disproportionate influence—sometimes appearing more powerful than the High Commissioner. This inverted power dynamic, where unelected bureaucrats resist change and undermine authority, exacerbates inefficiency and favouritism.
It must be addressed as part of any genuine reform.
The Political Mirror
This behaviour is not an isolated anomaly. It flows from the top down. When our politicians treat constituents’ concerns as inconveniences, they set a standard that permeates every level of the administration. The High Commission is merely a mirror, reflecting the political culture of Dhaka. Change the personnel; if the culture remains, the problems persist.
A Missed Opportunity – Hope for Meaningful Change
The recall of Abida Islam is a bureaucratic necessity, but it is not a solution. We need a new philosophy, not just new faces.
I do believe that under Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and Foreign Affairs Adviser Humayun Kabir—who has publicly signalled this shift—the High Commission is poised for change.
Kabir’s candid approach, coupled with ongoing diplomatic engagements, offers grounds for optimism.
If these actions translate into sustained reforms, the mission could finally serve our community with the respect it deserves.
This requires:
·Merit-based postings for both heads of mission and support staff.
· Genuine accountability where ignoring a citizen has consequences.
· CCTV and transparency in all public-facing sections.
· Digital transformation of services like NID and birth registration.
· A cultural shift where every officer knows they are public servants, not masters.
The Unchecked Influence of Bengali-Language Media
Beyond diplomacy, certain Bengali-language media outlets in the UK act as propaganda tools for homeland political factions. They import division and misinformation, damaging community cohesion.
In December 2025, I urged UK authorities to increase oversight.
The response confirmed that broadcasters fall under Ofcom, but print and online rely on self-regulation. This reveals a clear gap: these media tools must be brought under stronger accountability—through proactive Ofcom complaints, community ethics codes, and targeted use of the Online Safety Act.
Unchecked, they erode the unity we seek to build through diplomatic reform.
Conclusion:
The Trust Deficit – And a Path Forward
The Bangladeshi community in Britain has earned the right to be treated with dignity by our own state’s representatives. Instead, we are met with silence, bureaucratic arrogance, and amplified division from unaccountable media.
The debate over the Foreign Advisor’s language is a distraction.
The real issue is the systematic failure of our institutions to serve the people. Until we address that failure—until we change the culture of unaccountability that begins in Dhaka—the trust will continue to erode.
Yet with the current leadership’s clear intent, there is real hope for substantive improvement.
I write this as a patriot who believes that Bangladesh deserves better. It is time for change.
Not in style, but in substance.
Not in words, but in action
Sunahwar Ali:
President, NRB Support Group UK
March 2026
