Was an instant protest, says Bangladesh PM's aide as New Delhi entry row snowballs
After being "stopped" at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi for nearly two-and-a-half hours, Bangladesh Prime Minister's aide, Zahed Ur Rahman, has issued his first reaction in Dhaka. Zahed said that he returned from IGI airport as an "instant protest" against "harassment".
Zahed Ur Rahman, a top advisor to Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, said he turned back from New Delhi after being stopped at the IGI Airport for 2.5 hours as he felt the need for an "instant protest". Zahed told mediapersons in Dhaka on Tuesday that he wanted to demonstrate that he "felt a message needed to be sent both inside and outside the country that this is not Sheikh Hasina's government".
While Zahed was allowed entry subsequently, he returned to Dhaka, and Bangladesh summoned a top Indian diplomat on Monday. He called the incident "harassment by Indian authorities", according to Bangladeshi news outlet Prothom Alo.
Even as the controversy snowballed, Zahed said he didn't want to create hostility or "negative situation" because of his decision. "We do not want a bad situation with any country under any circumstances. I hope this incident will not affect future relations between the two countries," the Dhaka-based Daily Star quoted him as saying.
However, the immediate damage had been done.
Reports suggest that Zahed, Adviser on Policy and Strategy Affairs, was on a watchlist in India and was travelling on an ordinary, and not a diplomatic, passport.
In what seemed like an effort at damage control, Zahed was quoted by The Daily Star as saying that he would have "no objection to visiting India in the future if proper procedures were followed".
Zahed has frequently criticised India. Once, in a Bangladeshi television debate, Zahed called India a "stupid neighbour".
He has also criticised the BJP, its leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath, accusing them of interfering in Bangladesh's politics, promoting communal tensions, and exerting influence over Dhaka.
MY ACTION NOT INTENDED TO TRIGGER DIPLOMATIC ROW BETWEEN INDIA, BANGLADESH: ZAHED
Speaking at a press conference in Dhaka's Secretariat on Tuesday, Zahed defended his decision to abandon the India visit, saying he had travelled as a representative of the Bangladeshi state and not in a personal capacity.
"I did not go there in a personal capacity. I went as a representative of the state. Therefore, I felt that we needed to make an instant protest against what happened to me there. That is why I decided not to enter India," he said.
Zahed also said that his decision was intended to send a message that Bangladesh's BNP government expected to be treated differently from the previous administration led by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
"This was not as an individual, but as an adviser to the prime minister of Bangladesh, I felt there needed to be a clear statement of protest from the government," he said.
"I felt a message needed to be sent both inside and outside the country that this is not Sheikh Hasina's government. This is a government with a public mandate."
At the same time, Zahed sought to reassure both countries that his actions were not intended to trigger a diplomatic confrontation. Emphasising that Bangladesh did not seek hostility towards any nation, he said, "We do not want a bad situation with any country under any circumstances. I hope this incident will not affect future relations between the two countries".
NO OBJECTION TO VISIT INDIA AGAIN: BANGLADESH PM AIDE
Zahed added that he would have no objection to visiting India in the future if "proper procedures" were followed. He also pointed out that other members of the Bangladeshi delegation continued to participate in the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) meeting.
"We are an independent and sovereign state, and a government with massive public support is in power here," he said.
Following the row, Indian authorities eventually cleared Zahed's entry following intervention from higher levels. He, however, chose to return to Dhaka via Colombo instead of proceeding with the visit. The incident at New Delhi airport late on Sunday has since evolved into a diplomatic issue. Bangladesh summoned India's Deputy High Commissioner in Dhaka, even as the Indian foreign office is yet to respond to the matter.
Zahed Ur Rahman, a top advisor to Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, said he turned back from New Delhi after being stopped at the IGI Airport for 2.5 hours as he felt the need for an "instant protest". Zahed told mediapersons in Dhaka on Tuesday that he wanted to demonstrate that he "felt a message needed to be sent both inside and outside the country that this is not Sheikh Hasina's government".
While Zahed was allowed entry subsequently, he returned to Dhaka, and Bangladesh summoned a top Indian diplomat on Monday. He called the incident "harassment by Indian authorities", according to Bangladeshi news outlet Prothom Alo.
Even as the controversy snowballed, Zahed said he didn't want to create hostility or "negative situation" because of his decision. "We do not want a bad situation with any country under any circumstances. I hope this incident will not affect future relations between the two countries," the Dhaka-based Daily Star quoted him as saying.
However, the immediate damage had been done.
Reports suggest that Zahed, Adviser on Policy and Strategy Affairs, was on a watchlist in India and was travelling on an ordinary, and not a diplomatic, passport.
In what seemed like an effort at damage control, Zahed was quoted by The Daily Star as saying that he would have "no objection to visiting India in the future if proper procedures were followed".
Zahed has frequently criticised India. Once, in a Bangladeshi television debate, Zahed called India a "stupid neighbour".
He has also criticised the BJP, its leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath, accusing them of interfering in Bangladesh's politics, promoting communal tensions, and exerting influence over Dhaka.
MY ACTION NOT INTENDED TO TRIGGER DIPLOMATIC ROW BETWEEN INDIA, BANGLADESH: ZAHED
Speaking at a press conference in Dhaka's Secretariat on Tuesday, Zahed defended his decision to abandon the India visit, saying he had travelled as a representative of the Bangladeshi state and not in a personal capacity.
"I did not go there in a personal capacity. I went as a representative of the state. Therefore, I felt that we needed to make an instant protest against what happened to me there. That is why I decided not to enter India," he said.
Zahed also said that his decision was intended to send a message that Bangladesh's BNP government expected to be treated differently from the previous administration led by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
"This was not as an individual, but as an adviser to the prime minister of Bangladesh, I felt there needed to be a clear statement of protest from the government," he said.
"I felt a message needed to be sent both inside and outside the country that this is not Sheikh Hasina's government. This is a government with a public mandate."
At the same time, Zahed sought to reassure both countries that his actions were not intended to trigger a diplomatic confrontation. Emphasising that Bangladesh did not seek hostility towards any nation, he said, "We do not want a bad situation with any country under any circumstances. I hope this incident will not affect future relations between the two countries".
NO OBJECTION TO VISIT INDIA AGAIN: BANGLADESH PM AIDE
Zahed added that he would have no objection to visiting India in the future if "proper procedures" were followed. He also pointed out that other members of the Bangladeshi delegation continued to participate in the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) meeting.
"We are an independent and sovereign state, and a government with massive public support is in power here," he said.
Following the row, Indian authorities eventually cleared Zahed's entry following intervention from higher levels. He, however, chose to return to Dhaka via Colombo instead of proceeding with the visit. The incident at New Delhi airport late on Sunday has since evolved into a diplomatic issue. Bangladesh summoned India's Deputy High Commissioner in Dhaka, even as the Indian foreign office is yet to respond to the matter.
