Career Summary

High Commissioner Abida Islam officially assumed office as High Commissioner Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of Bangladesh to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on 27 January 2025. A distinguished career diplomat, High Commissioner Islam has significantly contributed to strengthening Bangladesh's foreign relations, particularly with Southeast Asia, the Americas, and on the international stage. Her efforts have notably enhanced Bangladesh's diplomatic, economic, and cultural ties with various countries.

Career Highlights

• Bangladesh Missions Abroad: Ambassador Abida Islam has held key diplomatic positions in several international postings, including in the Bangladesh Missions in London (2001-2004), Colombo (2004-2006), and Brussels (2009-2012).
• Deputy High Commissioner, Bangladesh High Commission, Kolkata, India (2012–2014): As the first female Deputy High Commissioner and Head of Mission in Kolkata, Ambassador Islam was instrumental in strengthening Bangladesh's ties with the West Bengal region of India.
• Director General, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dhaka: In her capacity as Director General, Ambassador Islam oversaw two significant wings within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: the International Organisations Wing (2014-2015) and the Americas Area (2015-2017).
• Ambassador of Bangladesh to the Republic of Korea (Dec 2017–Aug 2021): During her tenure as Ambassador to South Korea, Ambassador Islam worked tirelessly to improve Bangladesh-South Korea relations, particularly in trade, investment, and cultural exchange.
• Ambassador of Bangladesh to the United Mexican States (Aug 2021–Jan 2025): Ambassador Abida Islam served as the Ambassador of Bangladesh to the United Mexican States from 2021-2025. In her role, she represented Bangladesh in a wide range of diplomatic, cultural, and trade matters. She played a key role in strengthening bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Mexico, with an emphasis on enhancing cooperation across multiple sectors.

Education

• Master's in Foreign Affairs and Trade – Monash University, Australia
• Master's in Social Sciences (Sociology) – University of Dhaka, Bangladesh

Awards and Distinctions

Throughout her distinguished career, Ambassador Islam has received numerous prestigious awards in recognition of her contributions to diplomacy and cultural exchange:

• Order of Rio Branco (Feb 2018) – Government of Brazil, for outstanding diplomatic contributions.
• Proud Ambassador Award (Oct 2018) – NDN News & Seoul City Magazine, Republic of Korea, for exemplary service as a diplomatic envoy.
• Recognition Plaque (Dec 2018) – Korea Importers Association (KOIMA), recognising her role in strengthening Bangladesh-South Korea trade relations.
• 2020 Friendship Ambassador Award – Korea Cultural Friendship Ambassadors Association, NDN News, Seoul City Magazine, celebrating her role in fostering cultural and diplomatic ties between Bangladesh and South Korea.
• National Museum of History-Chapultepec Castle Medal (2024) – Awarded for her contributions to cultural diplomacy during the 80th anniversary celebrations of Mexico's National Museum of History.

Cultural and Artistic Contributions

Ambassador Islam is deeply passionate about both singing and painting, and she has actively worked to promote Bangladeshi culture through these artistic endeavours. She participated in several prestigious exhibitions that highlight Bangladesh's cultural heritage:

• "Sonar Bangla" at the University of the Cloister of Sor Juana, Mexico City.
• "Sonar Bangla 2.0" at the Centro Cultural Mexiquense Bicentenario, Texcoco, State of Mexico.
• "Sonar Bangla 3.0" at the Casa de los Muñecos University Museum of BUAP, Puebla, Mexico, in 2024.

Personal Information

Ambassador Islam is a mother of two children: Arshad Ahmed (son) and Aysha Ahmed (daughter)