Shoplifter foreign ministry probationer faces disciplinary action

The foreign ministry has started the process of “dismissing” one of its probation officers caught shoplifting at The Hague in Netherland.

Foreign Secretary Md Shahidul Haque told journalists that they were taking “appropriate measures” in accordance with the government service rules.

“(We’ve) begun dismissal process,” he said on Saturday at the foreign ministry while replying to a question.

The secretary was briefing about situation of Bangladeshis in the war-torn Yemen.

Mahbub Shahid Shisir, after passing civil engineering from the Bangladesh University of Engineering Technology (BUET), joined foreign service in June 2012.

He, along with his nine other foreign office peers, was sent to the Netherlands for a short training at the Netherlands Institute for International Relations, Clingendael, in February.

During his stay there, Shisir was caught lifting a headphone from a shop. He admitted to his crime and paid € 350 as penalty on his own.

Foreign Secretary Md Shahidul Haque

The Dutch foreign ministry, however, wrote to the Bangladesh mission in The Hague, condemning his act of stealing.

It also urged the government to take action to prevent any recurrence.

The foreign ministry officials earlier told bdnews24.com that they would take actions against him.

“He might lose his job or his confirmation might be delayed. But we’ll take serious action,” a senior official, preferring anonymity, earlier told bdnews24.com.

He was taken off the Foreign Service Academy course after the shoplifting.