Shams joined the foreign service in 1991 as part of the 9th batch of the Bangladesh Civil Service.[5][6]
In June 2013, Shams was appointed Ambassador of Bangladesh to Nepal.[7] She was previously the Director General of South Asia at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.[8] She hosted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in 2018 when she visited Nepal for the 4th Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation summit.[9] She worked during the crash of US-Bangla Airlines Flight 211 from Bangladesh to Nepal.[10] She supported developing Saidpur Airport into an international airport to turn it into a regional hub.[11] She proposed establishing a direct bus service between Bangladesh and Nepal to the Nepalese government.[12]
Shams was the Secretary (East) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.[13] She led an investigation committee following a police raid on the home of the Deputy mission chief in Indonesia Kazi Anarkoly and the recovery of marijuana in the raid.[13] She supported women diplomats saying father of the nation Sheikh Mujibur Rahman gave the Bangladeshi constitution which gives equal rights to all citizens.[14] She was the first woman to reach the rank of secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.[15] In 2022, she led a Bangladeshi diplomatic delegation in talks with an Indian delegation, talked about making the visa process easier.[16]
Shams was appointed rector of Foreign Service Academy in January 2023.[13] She replaced Asad Alam Siam.[13]