Salahuddin Noman Chowdhury becomes Bangladesh's 29th foreign secretary

Diplomat Salahuddin Noman Chowdhury has been appointed as Bangladesh's 29th foreign secretary. The administration wing of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the appointment in a notification on Sunday (8 November).

The notification said Chowdhury would serve as secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and discharge the duties of foreign secretary until further orders, and that the order would take effect immediately in the public interest.

Asad Alam Siam, who had served as foreign secretary since 20 June 2025, is set to take over as Bangladesh's high commissioner in Delhi. He bid farewell to the ministry on Sunday and formally handed over charge the same day.

Chowdhury, an officer of the 17th batch of the Bangladesh Civil Service (foreign affairs cadre), previously served as Bangladesh's permanent representative to the United Nations. Before that, he was Bangladesh's ambassador to Nepal.

The diplomat, who joined the foreign ministry in 1998, has earlier served in various positions at the Bangladesh high commissions in Delhi and Islamabad, the Bangladesh consulate in New York, and Bangladesh's permanent mission to the United Nations.

With the notification issued, his appointment has taken effect, and he will now carry out the duties of foreign secretary as secretary of the ministry.