2 officials' rivalry paralyses Libya's Dhaka embassy

In a rare case, the operations of the Libyan embassy in Dhaka have remained suspended for around two weeks due to a dispute between two officials fighting over the post of charge d'affaires.

Khaled Mohamed Abu Said, who claimed himself to be the acting charge d'affaires of Embassy of Lybia in Dhaka, yesterday held a press conference at Jatiya Press Club and called upon the Bangladesh's foreign affairs ministry to accept his credentials soon.

Accompanied by two officials of the embassy, Khaled called upon all authorities concerned not to work or keep any contact with MMM Sallabi who, he said, was sacked and removed by the Libyan government as charge d'affaires of the country's mission in Dhaka.

MMM Sallabi could not be contacted for his version about Khaled's allegation as none from the Libyan embassy received calls yesterday afternoon.

At the briefing, Khaled claimed the Libyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation removed Sallabi from his post on July 2, and the Libyan embassy in Dhaka also duly informed this to Bangladesh's foreign ministry.

"On the same day I was entrusted and designated as acting charge d'affaires by the Libyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation," Khaled said, adding that according to the Libyan law and international norms, Sallabi was no more charge d'affaires of Libya in Bangladesh.

Khaled also said he submitted his credentials to Bangladesh's foreign ministry on July 7 but the ministry did not respond yet.

"Actually Mr Sallabi was removed as he destroyed enough image of our government by involving himself with the unscrupulous and bad circle for his personal benefit and benefit of some local staffs as well," Khaled said in a written statement.

He said he could not enter the embassy as it was occupied by Sallabi and his loyalists. He added that on the night of July 15, Sallabi entered the embassy premises toppling the boundary wall with around 50 hired Bangladeshi miscreants and assaulted officials and staff of the embassy which he said was a criminal offence and very disgraceful for a diplomat. He hoped that according to the Vienna convention on diplomatic relations and international laws, Sallabi would be sent back to Libya in the due course of time, and a peaceful environment would be restored in the embassy.