Dhaka recalls its diplomat from Jakarta over ‘possessing marijuana’

GBNEWS24DESK//

The government has recalled Kazi Anarkoli, Deputy Head of Bangladesh Mission in Indonesia, at the request of the Indonesian government following allegations that police have recently ‘found marijuana’ at her flat in Jakarta.

“She has already been recalled. We are investigating the allegations against her. The standard of a foreign cadre official is very high and such allegations against such an official is very embarrassing,” State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam told reporters at the foreign ministry on Tuesday (August 2, 2022).

“If the allegations are proven, stern actions will be taken against the official,” he said.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Director General (Administration) DM Salah Uddin Mahmud said on Tuesday that Deputy Chief of Mission Kazi Anarkoli was withdrawn. She had been brought back to Bangladesh, he said.

Sources at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the Indonesian drug regulatory agency raided Kazi Anarkoli’s flat in South Jakarta last month and found marijuana. Later, in response to Indonesian authorities’ request, Dhaka recalled her to the foreign ministry last week.

Asked if the diplomat had impunity under the Vienna Convention, Shahriar Alam said there was nothing wrong with that as a foreigner shared her flat.

According to foreign ministry sources, Indonesian drug control authorities raided Kazi Anarkoli’s flat last month and found marijuana there. The diplomat used to share an apartment with a Nigerian national.

Later, she was brought back to Dhaka at the request of the Indonesian government.