Mr. Andalib Elias has experience of more than 23 years in the diplomatic service of Bangladesh. His areas of expertise include trade and development, climate change issues, migration, LDC graduation, and South-South cooperation. He was Chair of the LDC Group in Geneva and New York, and worked as Chief Negotiator of Group of 77 on economic and financial issues on several occasions. In addition to Bangladesh Missions to UN in Geneva and New York, he had also served in Bangladesh Embassies in Manila and Brussels, and Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata. As Director General in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Elias was in charge of the Multilateral Economic Affairs Wing and the West Europe and European Union Wing. Before joining as the Bangladesh High Commissioner in Colombo, Mr. Elias was the Head of the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata. 

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Professional experience:

Since August 2024:  High Commissioner for Bangladesh to Sri Lanka

April 2022 – July 2024: Deputy High Commissioner for Bangladesh in Kolkata, India

March 2021 – March 2022: Director-General in charge of Multilateral Economic Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dhaka

August 2019 – March 2021: Director-General in charge of West Europe & European Union at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dhaka

August 2016 – August 2019: Minister at Embassy of Bangladesh, Brussels, Belgium

May 2013 – August 2016: Counsellor at Permanent Mission of Bangladesh to UN, New York, USA

April 2011 – April 2013: Director (Foreign Minister’s Office) at Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dhaka, Bangladesh

November 2008 – April 2011: First Secretary/Counsellor at Embassy of Bangladesh, Manila, the Philippines

August 2005 – October 2008: Third Secretary/Second Secretary at Permanent Mission of Bangladesh to UN, Geneva, Switzerland

2001 – 2005: Assistant Secretary at Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dhaka, Bangladesh

1999 – 2001: Supply Chain Executive at Exxon-Mobil Corporation, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Professional trainings:

2015 : Training on conflict resolution, IPI, New York, USA

2005 : Training on multilateral negotiations, UNITAR, Geneva, Switzerland

2004 : Training on multilateral diplomacy (Professional Course for Foreign

Diplomats), Ministry of External Affairs of India, New Delhi, India

2002 : Specialized course on diplomacy and international affairs, Foreign Service Academy, Dhaka, Bangladesh

2001 : Civil Service Foundation Course at Bangladesh Public Administration Training Centre, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Academic background:

1999 : Master of Social Science in Economics from University of Dhaka, Bangladesh

1997 : Bachelor of Social Science (Honours) in Economic from University of Dhaka, Bangladesh

Personal information:

• Born on 19 June 1975 in Dhaka, Bangladesh
• Married
• Has two daughters