Dhaka's NY diplomat in Morocco

The Bangladeshi Consul General in New York, accused of mistreating his domestic help, has left the US for Morocco to join his new assignment in the North African country.

New York Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 25 March 2014, 09:12 PM
Updated : 26 March 2014, 09:34 AM

Masud Parvez Rana, who worked in Consul General Monirul Islam’s home in New York, accused the diplomat and his wife Fahima Tahsina Prova of keeping him in virtual servitude.

Rana alleged that he had been made to work without any pay for 18 months.

Monirul, however, denied the accusation, saying the charges were part of a conspiracy hatched by Rana in order to gain permanent residency status in the United States (US).

Monirul along with his wife reached Rabat, the Moroccan Capital on Mar 23, he told bdnews24.com in an e-mail message.

Bangladesh deputy permanent representative at the UN, Mostafizur Rahman, has been made the acting consul general.

File Photo

Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative at the UN, AK Abdul Momen, told bdnews24.com that Shamim Ahsan, Director General at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ External Publicity Wing, has been made the new consul general.

He will take up his position shortly.

Bangladeshis in New York expressed mixed reactions over Islam’s departure soon after a case was filed last week.

Nahar Alam, who fights for the rights of the domestic helps, told bdnews24.com: “He left (USA) days after the case was filed against him. This indicates he is guilty.”

Bangladeshi lawyer Moin Chowdhury told bdnews24.com that anybody can fight a civil suit without attending the court in person.

But Monirul would have to be present physically in court once the trial got under way, he said.

Another lawyer, Ashok Karmakar, said there was nothing wrong in reporting for a job elsewhere on orders of the appropriate authorities.

Monirul, however, would have to appoint a lawyer to fight the case, he said.

“Bangladesh’s ambassador in Washington could appoint a lawyer on his (Monirul) behalf. Or else, the court might issue an ex-parte order in absence of the defendants.”

If found guilty, Monirul could face a 10-year ban on entering the US, Karmakar said.