SILMIYA YOUSUF
COLOMBO : The new High Commissioner for Bangladesh to Sri Lanka, Tareq Md Ariful Islam, who arrived in Colombo last week is expected to assume duties on December 14.
High Commisioner Islam, who arrived in Colombo on November 28, is currently under self-quarantine for a two weeks in Colombo at his official residence.
He succeeds former high commissioner Riaz Hamidullah, who had served the mission for more than three years. Hamidullah is currently serving as his country’s ambassador in the Netherlands.
Islam has been a career diplomat and joined the Bangladesh Foreign Service in 1998.
Before assuming the current position, he was the Deputy Permanent Representative in the Permanent Mission of Bangladesh to the United Nations in New York (2016-2020). He had an earlier stint (2005-2009) in the same Mission (2005-2009) as First Secretary/Counsellor. He then served in the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata, India (2009-2012) as Counsellor. He also served in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh as Director-General (South Asia) and before that in various other capacities, including as Director (South Asia), Director (Foreign Minister’s Office) and in the Personnel Wing and the Foreign Secretary’s Office.
Islam takes special interest in the fields of international peace and security, regional cooperation, human rights and migration.
The diplomat holds a Master of Diplomacy and Trade from Monash University, Australia and a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET).
Islam is married to Aliya Najma Nur. They have two daughters, Ammarah Farin and Alisha Fayona
