Return from Delhi airport was an 'immediate protest': Zahed

Prime Minister's Information and Broadcasting Adviser Zahed Ur Rahman has said his decision to return to Dhaka after being held at Delhi airport for more than two hours was an act of "immediate protest" against what he described as "harassment".

"I felt there needed to be an immediate protest," he said today (16 June) while responding to reporters' questions about the incident during a regular press briefing at the Secretariat.

Zahed said Bangladesh had informed India's Ministry of External Affairs at least two days in advance about his visit to Delhi. However, upon arriving at the Indira Gandhi International Airport on Sunday, he was reportedly made to wait for around two and a half hours and was initially denied entry, according to him.

Although he was later allowed entry following instructions from higher authorities, Zahed said he decided to return to Dhaka instead.

"I did not go there as an individual; I went as a representative of the government and the state. What happened to me there required an immediate response from our side, which is why I decided to return," he said.

The adviser said the Indian authorities later tried to facilitate his entry and participation in scheduled engagements, but he declined.

"As the prime minister's adviser, I felt that there should be a clear signature or position from the state or the government regarding the incident," he added.

Zahed further noted that he did not believe the incident would affect future engagement between Dhaka and Delhi. He also praised Bangladesh High Commissioner to India M Riaz Hamidullah, saying the envoy "did his utmost" to resolve the matter.

Clarifying that he did not want the incident to lead to any tit-for-tat escalation, Zahed said, "I felt a message needed to go out, both inside and outside the country, that this is not Sheikh Hasina's government; it is a government elected by the people."

Asked whether he would visit India again in the future, Zahed said, "Of course, I will. If I receive a proper invitation, I will definitely go there. I want to engage with India rationally and logically."

He added that cooperation between the two countries should be based on equality, including in trade and other areas.

Indian media reports suggested that during screening at the airport, Zahed's name appeared on a watchlist, leading to questioning and delays.

Sources said the issue stemmed from an apparent administrative error. While his name had earlier been removed from a social media-related blacklist, it allegedly remained on an immigration watchlist, triggering the alert upon his arrival.

Zahed later left New Delhi for Colombo on an Air India flight that night. He reached Dhaka from Colombo on a SriLankan Airlines flight on Monday morning.

Later that day, the foreign ministry summoned Indian Deputy High Commissioner and Charge d'Affaires to Bangladesh Pawan Badhe and conveyed Dhaka's strong displeasure to New Delhi over the incident.

Zahed also dismissed claims that the issue was linked to him not carrying a diplomatic passport, saying such a document is optional and not mandatory for foreign travel.

The adviser was travelling on a regular Bangladeshi (green) passport with a Saarc visa, reports UNB.

He was scheduled to attend the 28th meeting of the Committee of Senior Officials of the Indian Ocean Rim Association. India is hosting the meeting in New Delhi on 15-16 June.

On Monday, Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman described the incident as "unexpected and unfortunate".

State Minister Shama Obaed Islam said the incident was "certainly not welcoming" and that such an occurrence was not expected. "Our ministry is looking into this and communicating with India, and will certainly take action, if required, once the full details of the incident are known," she said