Join us as we meet Ambassador Hemayet Uddin, former Bangladesh Ambassador to talk about careers in foreign service. Ambassador Uddin will talk about the life as a diplomat and his experiences as an Ambassador. He has authored a book on Bangladesh’s bilateral relations with India entitled ,“A Neighborly Affair : Assignment India”.
Ambassador Hemayet Uddin was born in Dhaka on June 21, 1948. He secured his Secondary High School Certificate from St. Gregory’s High School, Dhaka in 1964 and Higher Secondary Certificate from Notre Dame College, Dhaka in 1966. He obtained his BA (Honours) and Masters Degree in Sociology from the University of Dhaka in 1969 and 1970 respectively. He served in an Executive position in a Multinational Private Sector company in the immediate post independence period.
Ambassador Hemayet Uddin made his beginnings as a career diplomat when he joined the Bangladesh Foreign Service in 1975. Since then he served in various positions at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Bangladesh Embassies abroad. His foreign assignments include India (on two occasions), Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg, the European Community (now EU), the United States of America and Peoples Republic of China. He served as Bangladesh Ambassador to Kingdom of Thailand, the Kingdom of Cambodia and Bangladesh Permanent Representative to UNESCAP in Bangkok (2001-2003). He was the High Commissioner (Ambassador) of Bangladesh to India (2003-2005). He served as Foreign (Permanent) Secretary of Bangladesh from 2005 to end of 2006. On retirement from government service, Ambassador Hemayet Uddin joined as Ambassador and Director General in the General Secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Jeddah, KSA, (2007-2014) in charge of the Department of Culture, Family Affairs and Human Rights.
During his long diplomatic career, Ambassador Hemayet Uddin actively pursued in furthering bilateral relations and national interests in the countries he was posted. As Minister/Counselor the Bangladesh Embassy in Washington DC, USA ,he was paid a special tribute by the HON. GARY L. ACKERMAN, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Asia and the Pacific on the floor of the US House of Representatives for his outstanding contribution in promoting US-Bangladesh bilateral relations, the text of which is archived in the Congressional Record No Vol 14 of December 14, 1995 of the proceedings and debate of the 104th Congress. As Ambassador to Thailand and India, Mr. Hemayet Uddin made significant contribution in strengthening of bilateral relations and cooperation with these countries .
As Foreign Secretary, Ambassador Hemayet Uddin made his mark as an astute diplomat in the execution of his country’s foreign policy objectives and upholding national interests abroad. During his tenure with the OIC, Ambassador Hemayet Uddin chaired the Task Force in establishing the Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission of the OIC. He was also tasked with promoting greater understating and improving OIC –West relations under the auspices of the UN Alliance of Civilizations.
He has authored a book on Bangladesh’s bilateral relations with India entitled ,“A Neighborly Affair : Assignment India”. He is married and parent of a son and a daughter and a proud grandfather of three.