Opposition Leader and Jamaat Ameer Shafiqur Rahman has relieved his foreign affairs adviser Prof Mahamudul Hasan of his responsibilities for violating the instructions of the leader regarding a letter to the foreign ministry.

He was replaced by Mir Ahmad Bin Quasem (Arman) MP for Dhaka-14 constituency on March 2, claimed a Facebook post of Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar made yesterday following media reports on the matter.

It said about two weeks ago, Prof Mahmudul was tasked with writing a letter to Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman to clarify Jamaat’s positions on certain foreign affair issues. However, it did not clarify the party’s position on those issues.

“He [Prof Mahamudul] included matters in the letter that were beyond the ameer’s instructions, specifically a section regarding the minister’s rank,” Porwar said in the post.

The letter, signed by Shafiqur and sent to the foreign minister on February 22, said Prof Mahmudul has long been playing the role of his adviser on foreign affairs.

It said Prof Mahmudul, on behalf of the party, has been able to strengthen bilateral relationship with the major partners, including the UN, Commonwealth, Asean Regional Forum, European Union, and the countries in Asia, Africa, Oceania, America, and Europe efficiently.

The appointment of the opposition leader’s foreign affairs adviser at the foreign ministry as an adviser, equivalent to the foreign minister, which is new and innovative, the letter said.

“Through this posting, the position of the opposition in the parliament on foreign affairs can be presented to the ministry and thus maintain balance in the international relations,” it added.

The letter suggested that Khalilur give special consideration to appointing Prof Mahmudul as an adviser at the foreign ministry for navigating, together with the government, the geopolitical dynamics and Bangladesh’s foreign ministry.

Top foreign ministry officials have expressed surprise over such proposal by the opposition.

“There is no precedence of appointing an adviser at the foreign ministry from the opposition in the parliament,” said an official, seeking anonymity.

In the Facebook post, Porwar said as soon as the party became aware of the matter, the Jamaat chief removed Prof Mahamudul.

He emphasised that the party believes in responsible, transparent, and accountable political conduct, and maintains a policy of promptly correcting any misunderstandings or errors.