Peter Haas' movement: Diplomats inform government before leaving Dhaka

Amid speculations about the US ambassador in Dhaka Peter Haas' movement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said that diplomats inform them before leaving the country.

"It's a rule. Even when our diplomats leave the host country and come to Dhaka, they inform the host country and also to the headquarters in Dhaka. This is same for the Dhaka-based diplomats. They inform us and also their headquarters before leaving the work station. They also inform who would be the chargé d'affaires in their absence," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Seheli Sabrin said, replying to a question at the weekly media briefing on Thursday.

The question came as some media outlets ran stories on Thursday about the US ambassador who left Dhaka for Colombo on vacation.

Some speculated that Peter Haas left the country or he was recalled after the announcement of the election schedule.

Peter Haas' election related movement put him to media spot in Bangladesh.

His every movement is being reported by the media as he was apparently trying to broker deals between the political parties before the general elections.

The Election Commission on Wednesday announced the schedule and said the election would be held on January 7 amid opposition BNP's call to boycott the poll.

The US embassy did not make any comment when asked about Peter Haas.

The foreign ministry's spokesperson also declined to make specific comment on Peter Haas while giving the details of the norms of a diplomat's movement.

A senior official of the foreign ministry told requesting not to be named that Peter Haas left on a vacation.

"He left for Colombo on Thursday afternoon with his spouse," another official confirmed.