Pakistan’s high commissioner to Bangladesh, Syed Ahmed Maroof, has abruptly gone on an indefinite leave after videos of his alleged honeytrap surfaced online, according to Bangladeshi daily Prothom Alo. Although there is no official statement, regarding how long the leave is going to be, there are reports that the leave is likely to be for two weeks.
Maroof left Dhaka for Islamabad via Dubai on the morning of 11 May. The same day, the Pakistan high commission in Dhaka formally notified Bangladesh’s ministry of foreign affairs of his departure, reported Portho Alo. Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry hasn't issued any statement on this matter.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Deputy High Commissioner in Dhaka, Muhammad Asif, has temporarily stepped in as the Acting High Commissioner.
Reports of scandal escalated after photos and allegedly sensitive videos of him with a young Bangladeshi woman surfaced online, showing Maroof with a Bangladeshi woman in a compromising position. This fueled rumors of the envoy being honey-trapped.
The authenticity of the videos has not been confirmed. Syed Ahmed Maroof assumed office as Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh in December 2023.
Since the change in government in Bangladesh, Maroof had been a visibly active diplomat. He played a pivotal role in arranging high-level visits, including that of Pakistan’s foreign secretary, and had travelled widely across Bangladesh. His last known visit was to Cox’s Bazar on 9 May.
