Syed Masud Mahmood Khundoker

Syed Masud Mahmood Khundoker is a diplomat and former ambassador of Bangladesh to Qatar.[1][2] He was the Principal and later the rector of the Foreign Service Academy.[3][4]

Early life

Khundoker did his bachelor's and master's in English literature and language at the University of Chittagong.[5]

Career

Khundoker joined the 10th batch of the Bangladesh Civil Service as a foreign affairs cadre.[6] In 2006, he was the counsellor at the Embassy of Bangladesh in Canada.[7]

Khundoker was the Director General (SAARC and BIMSTEC wing) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.[8] Before that, he served as the Director General of External Publicity at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.[9]

Khundoker was appointed ambassador of Bangladesh to Qatar, replacing Md. Shahdat Hossain on 18 May 2013.[10] He attended the launch of the Qatar-based Middle East edition of the Prothom Alo.[11] He secured 50 thousand new work permits for Bangladeshi workers.[12]

In April 2015, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent an inquiry team to investigate some allegations against Khundoker.[13] The Government of Bangladesh recalled Khundoker from Qatar, reportedly amid internal conflicts among Awami League leaders based in Doha.[14] The decision was issued following a directive from the Prime Minister’s Office under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.[14] It drew criticism from several leaders of the Awami League’s Qatar unit, who argued that the recall was unjustified.[14] According to party leaders in Doha, tensions arose when the ambassador declined to accommodate certain demands from a local Bangabandhu Sainik League leader, who sought greater involvement in embassy-community relations.[14] This role was traditionally coordinated through mainstream political party units, such as the Awami League.[14] A delegation of senior Awami League figures from Qatar, including Unit President Omar Faruque Chowdhury, Senior Vice-President Shafiqul Islam Talukder Babu, and Bangabandhu Parishad Vice-President SM Faridul Haque, met with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam in Dhaka to express their concerns.[14] In October 2015, Ashud Ahmed replaced him as the ambassador of Bangladesh to Qatar.[15][10]

From October 2015 to August 2019, Khundoker served as the principal of the Foreign Service Academy, a position later renamed rector.[16][17] He organised Mujib Shotoborsho at the academy to mark the 100th birthday of the late President and founding father of Bangladesh, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.[18] He served as the rector of the Foreign Service Academy until March 2021 before being replaced by Ambassador Shabbir Ahmad Chowdhury.[16][17] He was the vice-president of the BCS (Foreign Affairs) Association.[19]

References

  1. ^ "Bangladeshi embassy marks Martyrs' Day". The Peninsula Newspaper. 2014-02-22. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
  2. ^ "Reception for new Bangladesh ambassador". Gulf Times. 2013-10-06. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
  3. ^ "Reinforce economic diplomacy to boost trade: PM to diplomats". The Daily Star. 25 September 2020. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
  4. ^ "Dhaka, Beijing to strengthen cooperation". The Daily Star. 2017-10-16. Archived from the original on 2017-12-19. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
  5. ^ "Completion Report of 73rd Foundation Training Course" (PDF). Bangladesh Public Administration Training Centre. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
  6. ^ "Bangladesh-Time avoid political posting". dazzlingdawn.com. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
  7. ^ "Diplomatic, Consular & Other Representatives in Canada". Queen’s University. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
  8. ^ "Dhaka's proposal sought for Saarc News Agency". The Daily Star. 2012-07-12. Archived from the original on 2024-03-04. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
  9. ^ "Libyan envoy to Bangladesh resigns". Trend.Az. 2011-02-22. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
  10. ^ a b "Former Ambassadors". Embassy of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh Doha, Qatar. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
  11. ^ "Prothom Alo steps into the Gulf". Prothomalo. 2014-10-18. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
  12. ^ "Qatar approves work visas for 50,000 Bangladeshis - Arabian Business: Latest News on the Middle East, Real Estate, Finance, and More". Arabian Business. 2015-03-04. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
  13. ^ "Ministry set to dismiss cub diplomat". The Daily Star. 12 April 2015. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
  14. ^ a b c d e f "Ambassador to Qatar pays for conflicts among ruling party leaders". Dhaka Tribune. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
  15. ^ "Ashud Ahmed new Bangladesh envoy to Qatar". Dhaka Tribune. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
  16. ^ a b "List of Principals". Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
  17. ^ a b "ফরেন সার্ভিস একাডেমি, বাংলাদেশ". fsa.gov.bd. Archived from the original on 2024-09-06. Retrieved 2025-02-17.
  18. ^ "Foreign Service Academy celebrates the Birth Centenary of Bangabandhu | banglatribune.com". Bangla Tribune. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
  19. ^ Qadir, Nadeem. "MOFA kills move to make embassies vibrant | The Asian Age Online, Bangladesh". The Asian Age. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
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