Dhaka has expressed displeasure over the detention of Dr. Zahidur Rahman, senior advisor to Bangladesh Prime Minister Tariq Rahman, at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport. After this incident, he has summoned India’s Deputy High Commissioner Pawan Badhe. Rehman was stopped for immigration check for about two and a half hours.
According to reports, Dr. Zahid ur Rehman reached India on Sunday evening. He was leading the Bangladeshi delegation to participate in the 28th Senior Officials Meeting of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) to be held on June 15-16 in Delhi. It is being told that Rehman faced delay because his name was in a ‘watchlist’. Indian officials interrogated him for about two and a half hours.
High Commissioner of Bangladesh revealed his identity
It is being told that Dr. Rehman’s name was flagged during the regular immigration check at Indira Gandhi Airport, after which he was stopped for separate questioning. Whereas other members of the delegation easily completed the immigration process and moved ahead. Meanwhile, Bangladesh’s High Commissioner to India M. Riyaz Hamidullah was present at the airport and informed the officials about the identity of Rahman. Indian officials also had advance information that he was the head of the delegation.
Rahman canceled the trip
After waiting for about two and a half hours, Dr. Rahman decided to cancel his trip to India and informed the authorities that he was returning back to Dhaka. However, Indian officials later said that the matter could be resolved and asked him to continue his journey. But he decided not to enter India. After this he returned to Dhaka via Colombo.
Rahman was traveling on normal passport
According to the report, Dr Rahman was traveling on a normal Bangladeshi passport which had a SAARC visa sticker on it. Which is available to citizens of South Asian countries. He did not have a diplomatic passport, so he had to go through the normal immigration check. Reports say that his name may appear in the security database due to a technical fault or some other reason.
Bangladesh summoned India’s Deputy High Commissioner
After this incident, the Foreign Ministry of Bangladesh summoned India’s Deputy High Commissioner Pawan Badhe and expressed deep disappointment over the incident. This was the first official reaction from Dhaka. According to reports, Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman described the situation as unexpected and unfortunate and said that the government is taking the matter seriously.
Doctor-turned-policy advisor and well-known public commentator Zahid Ur Rehman has recently joined the government as an advisor with the rank of Minister of State. He was to lead the Bangladesh delegation at the IORA meeting held in Delhi (15-16 June). The remaining members of the Bangladeshi delegation attended the meeting as planned.
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