Mashfee Binte Shams

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Mashfee Binte Shams is a Bangladeshi diplomat and former rector of the Bangladesh Foreign Service Academy. [1] She is the former ambassador of Bangladesh to Nepal. [2] [3] She is the former Secretary (East) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. [4]

Career

Shams joined the foreign service in 1991 as part of the 9th batch of the Bangladesh Civil Service. [5] [6]

In June 2013, Shams was appointed Ambassador of Bangladesh to Nepal. [7] She was previously the Director General of South Asia at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. [8] She hosted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in 2018 when she visited Nepal for the 4th Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation summit. [9] She worked during the crash of US-Bangla Airlines Flight 211 from Bangladesh to Nepal. [10] She supported developing Saidpur Airport into an international airport to turn it into a regional hub. [11] She proposed establishing a direct bus service between Bangladesh and Nepal to the Nepalese government. [12]

Shams was the Secretary (East) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. [13] She led an investigation committee following a police raid on the home of the Deputy mission chief in Indonesia Kazi Anarkoly and the recovery of marijuana in the raid. [13] She supported women diplomats saying father of the nation Sheikh Mujibur Rahman gave the Bangladeshi constitution which gives equal rights to all citizens. [14] She was the first woman to reach the rank of secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. [15] In 2022, she led a Bangladeshi diplomatic delegation in talks with an Indian delegation, talked about making the visa process easier. [16]

Shams was appointed rector of Foreign Service Academy in January 2023. [13] She replaced Asad Alam Siam. [13]

References

  1. "Our dream is to make Bangla an official UN language: FM". The Daily Star. 2024-02-21. Retrieved 2025-02-20.
  2. "A collective approach towards art and artists". The Daily Star. 2017-06-10. Retrieved 2025-02-20.
  3. "Nepal-Bangladesh Relations: Beyond Bilateralism". The Daily Star. 2021-03-20. Retrieved 2025-02-20.
  4. "'Recruit more workers, IT professionals'". The Daily Star. 2022-11-19. Retrieved 2025-02-20.
  5. "Mashfee Binte Shams new Foreign Service Academy Rector". unb.com.bd. Retrieved 2025-02-20.
  6. "New ambassadors to Nepal, Portugal appointed". Bdnews24.com . Retrieved 2025-02-20.
  7. "New envoy to Nepal presents credentials". The Daily Star. 2013-06-12. Retrieved 2025-02-20.
  8. "Major changes in foreign office". The Daily Star. 2012-06-30. Retrieved 2025-02-20.
  9. "Red carpet rolled out as PM reaches Kathmandu". The Daily Star. 2018-08-30. Retrieved 2025-02-20.
  10. "'We have been deeply involved with the coordinating since the crash happened'". Dhaka Tribune. Retrieved 2025-02-20.
  11. "Saidpur airport to turn regional". The Daily Star. 2020-02-19. Retrieved 2025-02-20.
  12. "Direct bus service with Nepal likely". The Daily Star. 2014-12-14. Retrieved 2025-02-20.
  13. 1 2 3 4 "Mashfee Binte Shams appointed new Foreign Service Academy rector". The Daily Star. 2023-01-02. Retrieved 2025-02-20.
  14. "Foreign diplomats applaud Bangladesh's proactive policy of women empowerment". The Daily Star. 2022-03-15. Retrieved 2025-02-20.
  15. "'I appeal to all, no lip service please'". The Daily Star. 2021-03-09. Retrieved 2025-02-20.
  16. "'Make the visa process flexible'". The Daily Star. 2022-07-26. Retrieved 2025-02-20.