Bangladesh Calls Indian Diplomat After Adviser Stopped at Delhi Airport

In a diplomatic stir, Bangladesh summoned India’s acting High Commissioner in Dhaka, Pawan Badhe, following an incident involving Zahed Ur Rahman, an adviser to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, who was reportedly detained at Delhi’s airport for undisclosed reasons. The summons on Monday came just a day after the incident, which has raised eyebrows and sparked discontent within the Bangladeshi government.

Zahed Ur Rahman had arrived in the Indian capital to participate in a two-day meeting of the Indian Ocean Rim Association, a regional forum aimed at promoting trade and economic growth in the Indian Ocean region. Upon his arrival on Sunday, however, he faced an unexpected delay of over two hours during the immigration clearance process, a situation that was reportedly unanticipated by the Bangladeshi delegation. Despite the eventual clearance by higher authorities, Rahman opted to return to Dhaka, choosing a route via Colombo on Monday afternoon instead.

Reports indicate that the Bangladeshi High Commissioner to India, M Riaz Hamidullah, was present at the airport to assist Rahman and had identified him to immigration officials. It has also been noted that the Indian authorities were informed in advance about Zahed Ur Rahman’s role as the head of the Bangladeshi delegation for the ongoing talks. While other delegates from Bangladesh faced no issues entering the country, Rahman’s experience has sparked concern regarding the treatment of diplomatic representatives.

Bangladesh’s Foreign Affairs Adviser, Khalilur Rahman, has publicly expressed dissatisfaction with how the incident was handled, emphasizing the importance of diplomatic norms and the need for smooth cooperation among neighboring countries. As diplomatic relations between India and Bangladesh have historically been complex, this incident could have broader implications for bilateral ties. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs has yet to provide an official statement addressing the situation.

This event comes at a sensitive time when both nations are working on enhancing cooperation in various sectors including trade, security, and regional stability. The unexpected nature of the incident raises questions about the current state of diplomatic engagement and the importance of ensuring that such situations do not hinder collaborative efforts in the future.

Source: scroll.in