The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday summoned Indian deputy high commissioner to Bangladesh Pawan Badhe over the prime minister’s adviser for policy and strategy Zahed Ur Rahman’s return from Delhi airport as he was stopped by immigration officials there, officials confirmed.
Director General for South Asia at the ministry Ishrat Jahan expressed disappointment over the incident to the Indian diplomat, said officials, adding that the deputy high commissioner was summoned as the Indian high commissioner-designate Dinesh Trivedi, who arrived in Dhaka on Friday, was yet to submit his credentials.
The development came hours after Bangladesh foreign minister Khalilur Rahman described the incident as ‘unexpected and unfortunate’ and said that his ministry was taking ‘appropriate measures’ regarding the matter.
Zahed, also adviser for information and broadcasting ministry and cultural affairs ministry holding the rank of state minister, was on an official visit to India to attend the two-day meeting of the Committee of Senior Officials of the Indian Ocean Rim Association in New Delhi.
‘It is unexpected and also unfortunate. The foreign ministry is taking appropriate measures against the incident,’ Khalilur said, responding to reporters’ queries at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Zahed decided to return home via Colombo without entering India although the immigration officials later allowed his entry, according to officials concerned.
State minister for foreign affairs Shama Obaed Islam responding to a question at the ministry said that the incident was obviously not ‘welcoming’ and Dhaka did not expect this kind of incident happen.
‘The ministry is looking into it and communicating with New Delhi. We will certainly take actions if required after getting all the details,’ she told reporters, adding that the director general for South Asia Wing first needs to know what happened.
‘Let our DG first find out what happened at India’s immigration by gathering all the information. Then the ministry will take whatever steps are necessary,’ she said.
Prime minister’s adviser Zahed returned home on Monday via Colombo after he was stopped at Delhi airport by Indian immigration authorities on Sunday evening as his name was reportedly flagged during a security check, United News of Bangladesh reported.
The adviser was not carrying a diplomatic passport. He was travelling on a regular Bangladeshi (green) passport with a SAARC visa, according to the UNB report.
The adviser was scheduled to attend the 28th meeting of the Committee of Senior Officials of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA). India is hosting the meeting (June 15-16) in New Delhi.
