Bangladesh has summoned the Indian Deputy High Commissioner in Dhaka after detaining a senior advisor to the Prime Minister for two-and-a-half hours for questioning at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi.
Dr. Zahid Rahman Asst Immigration authorities arrested Bangladesh Prime Minister Tariq Rahman on Sunday evening after his name was flagged during a routine security check, BSS news agency reported. He was traveling to India to attend the 28th meeting of the Senior Officials Committee of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) CSO Meeting.
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Bangladeshi media, citing sources, reported that while other members of the delegation succeeded in completing immigration procedures without difficulty, Rahman remained stuck at the checkpoint.
Bangladesh High Commissioner to India, Riaz Hamidullah, was present at the airport and introduced Rehman to the immigration authorities. Indian officials were also informed in advance of his role as head of the Bangladeshi delegation, the report added.
He did not continue his visit
After waiting for more than two-and-a-half hours, Rahman decided not to go ahead with his scheduled visit and informed officials that he would return to Dhaka, BSS said. Although Indian officials later said the case could be resolved and asked him to continue his travel, he decided not to enter India. Travel across Columbo and returned home.
Passport issue
He was traveling on an ordinary Bangladeshi passport with a SAARC visa sticker and did not have a diplomatic passport, so he had to undergo normal immigration checks. Reports say the delay occurred after his name appeared on a security watch list during a routine check, possibly due to a technical error or database error.
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Diplomatic reaction in Dhaka
The Bangladesh Foreign Ministry summoned Indian Deputy High Commissioner Pawan Badhe and expressed “deep disappointment” to him about what happened. This was the first official response from Dhaka. Foreign Minister Dr. Khalil Rahman described the situation as “unexpected and unfortunate,” and said the government was taking the matter seriously, according to BSS news agency.
Zahid Rahman, a doctor turned political consultant and well-known public commentator, recently joined the government as an advisor with the rank of Minister of State. He was supposed to lead the Bangladesh delegation at the IORA meeting (June 15-16) in New Delhi. The rest of the Bangladeshi delegation attended the meeting as planned.
