Asad Alam Siam to be Bangladesh’s new High Commissioner to India, New Delhi approves

Bangladesh has appointed Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam as the next High Commissioner to New Delhi. His name has also been formally approved by the Government of India. Asad Alam Siam will replace the current High Commissioner M Riaz Hamidullah. The appointment comes at a time when relations between the two countries have been strained for some time, so the move comes amid efforts by the two countries to rekindle ties.

A Bangladesh foreign ministry official said that Dhaka has received India’s formal consent for the appointment of Asad Alam Siam. Currently, the date of his visit to India has not been announced. Currently Siam is in New York for UNGA with Prime Minister Tariq Rehman. It is believed that Siam will soon come to New Delhi and take charge.

Siam will replace M Riaz Hamidullah

Current High Commissioner of Bangladesh stationed in New Delhi M. Riyaz Hamidullah’s tenure is coming to an end. He is expected to visit Geneva in mid-October and assume his new role as Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations. Asad Alam Siam will replace the current High Commissioner M Riaz Hamidullah. The Ministry of External Affairs is expected to issue an official statement on this by Wednesday (September 23).

A Bangladesh High Commission spokesperson confirmed

Spokesperson of Bangladesh High Commission in India Saidur Rehman also confirmed this matter. He said that the Ministry of External Affairs of India has issued a memorandum for the appointment of Asad Alam Siam. An agramma is a formal approval given by one country to the proposed diplomatic appointment of another country.

Siam joined the Foreign Service in 1995

Asad Alam Siam, who joined Bangladesh’s foreign service in 1995, is a veteran diplomat who took over as foreign secretary in the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus last year. Siam has been the Foreign Secretary since June 2025. Before this, he has been the ambassador of Bangladesh in America and Australia. He served as Ambassador to Austria from 2023-2024 and Ambassador to the Philippines from 2017-2021.

He also served as Bangladesh’s first Consul General in Milan (Italy), Assistant High Commissioner in Manchester (UK) and Junior Diplomat in Indonesia and Thailand. In addition to his appointments abroad, he also served as Chief of Protocol, Director General in Europe and the EU Wing and Director in the Office of the Foreign Secretary. Now it has been decided to make him the next High Commissioner in Delhi. Asad Alam Siam has rendered extensive service at home and abroad. He has represented Bangladesh in World Bank, IMF, ADB and UN. After Siam, Salahuddin Noman Chaudhary will be made the new Foreign Secretary of Bangladesh.

Signs of improvement in relations between India and Bangladesh

Asad Alam Siam’s appointment comes at a time when relations between the two countries have soured since Sheikh Hasina’s government was ousted from power in August 2024. The move by Dhaka is being seen as a sign of India’s efforts to mend ties after appointing former Union Minister Dinesh Trivedi as High Commissioner to Bangladesh.