Odia IFS officer Biraja Prasad passes away

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Feb 13:

The 1998 batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer Biraja Prasad from Odisha, appointed as the Ambassador of India to the Republic of Tajikistan, passed away this morning.

Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted the news of demise of Biraja Prasad on the micro-blogging site.

“Our deepest condolences to the family of Amb Biraja Prasad, our Ambassador to Tajikistan who tragically passed away this morning. The thoughts and prayers of the Ministry and the diplomatic community are with you at this difficult time,” MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted.

According to media reports, Prasad died of cardiac arrest.

Notably, the Odia IFS officer was the youngest diplomat to be appointed as India’s Ambassador to any country.

Prior to taking up the assignment as Ambassador to Tajikistan, Prasad was posted as Counsellor, Embassy of India, Moscow.

A B.Tech in Electronics and Communication Engineering, he has also worked in Madrid (Spain) as Deputy Chief of Mission.

Prior to his posting in Spain, he served at MEA headquarters from 2004 to 2011 and served as Under Secretary (Russia), Under Secretary (Europe West), Dy Secretary (Europe West) and then Director (Europe West) from 2007 to 2011.

Having served in Embassy of India, Moscow (2000 to 2002) as Second Secretary (Political) and further as Second Secretary (Political & Commercial) & HOC (2002-2004) in Embassy of India, Almaty (Kazakhstan) Biraja Prasad was a career diplomat with fair knowledge and experience of Central Asia.