Dhaka, Aug. 11 -- In a rare move in Bangladesh's diplomatic history, the government has appointed 33-year-old academic Dr Md Nazmul Islam as High Commissioner to the Maldives.

His appointment has drawn considerable attention within diplomatic circles, with many viewing it as symbolic of a generational shift in the country's foreign service.

Dr Nazmul, originally from Noakhali, studied Peace and Conflict Studies at Dhaka University from 2009-10, completing his master's degree in 2014. He later earned a PhD from Ankara Yildirim Beyazit University in Turkey under a government scholarship, where he went on to become an associate professor.

According to a government gazette issued on 27 July, Dr Nazmul was appointed on a two-year contractua...