He was appointed Bangladesh's ambassador to the Federative Republic of Brazil in 2014 and high commissioner to the Court of St James's in the United Kingdom from 2012 to 2014.

He was previously the Bangladeshi ambassador to the Russian Federation and served as high commissioner to the Maldives prior to his posting to Moscow.

His tenure as foreign secretary is noted for overseeing the facilitation of movement on longstanding issues with Bangladesh's neighbours.

Quayes is remembered in his capacity as foreign secretary for leading regional initiatives and issues of global import ranging from human rights to disarmament, trade to sustainable development, gender, inclusion and empowerment and peace-building and for highlighting the consequences of climate change induced displacement for climate vulnerable nations like Bangladesh.

[5] He was elected in 2012 to the International Civil Service Commission and previously served as a member of the UNHRC's working group on migrants and human rights from 1997 to 1998.