Veteran journalist Mushfiqul Fazal Ansarey, known for his advocacy of democracy and human rights in Bangladesh while living in the United States during the Awami League`s rule, has been appointed as an ambassador under the foreign affairs ministry of the interim government to overseas Bangladeshi mission.

The Ministry of Public Administration announced his appointment in a notification issued on Monday.

According to the notification, Mushfiqul`s appointment as an ambassador is set for a three-year term upon joining.  He will be assigned to an overseas Bangladesh mission, the notification also stated.

Mushfiqul is the editor of the online news portal Just News BD and the executive editor of the Washington-based magazine South Asia Perspectives.

He has an extensive background in journalism, having served as a diplomatic reporter for Daily Ittefaq and written for prominent UK newspapers The Times and The Sunday Times.

In addition to his journalism career, Mushfiqul hosted a television programme on BTV and presented "Hello Excellency" on NTV.

From 2001 to 2006, he was the assistant press secretary to former prime minister Khaleda Zia.

He moved to the United States in 2015, during the tenure of the Awami League government, and became well-known for his pointed questions at US State Department press briefings.

Mushfiqul returned to Bangladesh on Sept 12 after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina administration in the face of a student-led mass uprising.