Our man in Bangladesh (From Asian Image)

Our man in Bangladesh

10:22am Sunday 20th January 2008 in

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If you find yourself at the centre of a major international crisis whilst in Bangladesh this man may well be the first representative of the British Government you will meet.

This month Asian Image caught-up with Toafiq Wahab who is Head of Consular Services otherwise known as Her Majesty's British Consul and is based in the capital city Dhaka.

Toff as he is known to many people has the role of looking after the interests and well-being of British nationals visiting and residing in Bangladesh.

The 32-year-old father of two heads the network of wardens and leads on consular policy, extradition cases, contingency and emergency planning and maintaining high level liaison with local authorities.

His normal day to day job could see him called-up when a British national is arrested, visiting a British National in prison or having to deal with a forced marriage case.

"Consular work is exciting and no day is the same. You never know what to expect next.

"The purpose of the FCO is to work for UK interests. This could include developing and delivering specific international policies and providing consular, visa and commercial services to British Citizens, businesses and others."

"I would urge all British nationals when visiting another country to register with the British Embassy/High Commission. This is especially significant when you visit developing countries such as Bangladesh.

"For example if anything does go wrong then we know exactly where you are.

"Many British nationals, especially dual nationals visiting South Asia do not register.

"All it takes is a simple click of the mouse on our website or sending a very brief e-mail to let us know your travel plans. It does not cost anything and we do not pass the information to anyone else.

"During the recent cyclone in Bangladesh as well as keeping the British Government informed of the situation on the ground our role was to assist the British nationals who may have been caught up in the disaster."

In recent years the Foreign Office has taken a proactive role in assisting both male and females (British Nationals) who are forced in tomarriages against their will.

"One of the most pressing issues we deal with is that of forced marriages. We are always keen to make a distinction between forced and arranged marriages.

"I would also like to make clear that we are not against arranged marriages which are a respected tradition all over the world.

"There is one crucial difference between the two: consent. An arranged marriage is a deal between two families, sealed with the consent of both husband and wife.

"But in a forced marriage there is no consent by either one of the parties. Forced marriages are clearly a fundamental abuse of human rights."

"We deal with almost a case every week. Some of these rescues can be very challenging and resource intensive.

Whilst much of Toff's work sees him based in the capital Dhaka, he also manages the British High Commission Consular Office in Sylhet which he travels to on a regular basis.

Many British Bangladeshi's in the UK originate from Sylhet. It is where Toff had to deal with his first rescue case of a forced marriage.

"This case sticks in my mind because it was the first one I was dealing with. A 17-year-old female from Sylhet called us but before she could complete the conversation the line went dead.

"We had to track her down (using local sources) and 36 hours from taking that call we had turned up at her house with an armed police escort.

"It was a strange situation because the house was filled with over twenty of her relations most of whom were from Britain who were stunned to see me turn up. They obviously did not want her to leave.

"We simply asked her if she wanted to leave and go back to the UK in the presence of all her family and she agreed.

"I then spoke to the family and explained what we were doing and tried to make them understand. In the end, we had to get the police to assist in helping us to leave.

"I had at the time been briefed but nothing prepares you for the real thing."

Toff left St Wilfrid's CE High School, Blackburn and briefly worked for the Blackburn Borough Council, HM Customs & Excise and the Halifax Bank before landing a role within the HM Diplomatic Service with the Foreign Office.

Whilst doing this job in London he was also the Chairman of the service's Ethnic Minority Advisory Group (EMAG). His efforts in the service were quickly recognised by an invitation to an event hosted by the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh at Buckingham Palace in May 1998 for outstanding achievement "I would advise anyone thinking of following a career in the Foreign Office not to be put-off by the selection process. This career really gives you an opportunity to make a change.

"You do get to choose the jobs that you do and the locations. For me somewhere like Bangladesh although very testing has helped me to become a better person."

Toff is hoping to become a British ambassador within the next 10 years if not sooner.

"I have learnt many languages and been exposed to so many different cultures.

"But as I progress through my career the pinnacle would be becoming a British Ambassador."

For more information about the Foreign and Commonwealth Office visit the website www.fco.gov.uk where you can also find Travel Advice notices for over 200 countries.