North Korean diplomat asked to leave Bangladesh

The government has asked a North Korean diplomat in Dhaka to leave Bangladesh by Monday for his illegal activities violating diplomatic norms.

The Foreign Ministry issued the order to the diplomat – Han Son Ik, first secretary of the North Korean Mission here, a diplomatic source told UNB.

Customs officials reportedly seized a consignment of tobacco and electronic products, worth Tk 3.5 crore, from the Inland Container Depot (ICD) at Kamalapur last month.

The North Korean diplomats purportedly brought the items without following the due process.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) wrote to Foreign Secretary M Shahidul Haque to take appropriate actions against the diplomat for importing goods without following the due process.

In March last year, Bangladesh expelled another North Korean diplomat after he was caught smuggling $1.4 million worth of gold.

Bangladesh Customs officials found Son Young Nam, the then first secretary of the North Korean Embassy in Dhaka, trying to smuggle 27 kg (60 pounds) of gold into the country.

The diplomat was released in accordance with diplomatic protocol but Bangladesh asked North Korea to withdraw him.