Bangladesh President Mohammed Shahabuddin expressed anguish over the abrupt removal of his portraits from embassies and consulates worldwide in a letter to Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain on Sunday. The president said the overnight action humiliated him through media coverage and social media posts across the globe. Investigative journalist Zulkarnain Saer shared the letter on his verified Facebook page on Wednesday.
Shahabuddin questioned whether officials could have handled the matter more tactfully while respecting his position. He noted his consistent support for the government, issuing nearly 50 ordinances and endorsing a zero-portrait policy for government offices. The president said he never sought an exemption for his photographs but believed strategic implementation could have prevented controversy. As a freedom fighter who participated in the Liberation War, Shahabuddin wrote that the incident left him feeling dishonored.
Shahabuddin questioned whether officials could have handled the matter more tactfully while respecting his position. He noted his consistent support for the government, issuing nearly 50 ordinances and endorsing a zero-portrait policy for government offices. The president said he never sought an exemption for his photographs but believed strategic implementation could have prevented controversy. As a freedom fighter who participated in the Liberation War, Shahabuddin wrote that the incident left him feeling dishonored.
