Bangladesh Summons Indian Envoy: What's The New Delhi-Dhaka Diplomatic Row?

Diplomatic tension between India and Bangladesh has been reignited months after the killing of a Hindu man in Dhaka, pushing relations between the neighbouring nations to a new low. The fresh row erupted after Dr Zahed Ur Rahman, the Prime Minister's Adviser on Policy and Strategy Affairs, and Information and Broadcasting, was stopped by immigration authorities at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi on Sunday.

What happened?

Zahed is known as a political commentator and critic of deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her government.

His name was reportedly flagged during a routine security check, state-run BSS news agency reported. According to media reports, Zahed, who holds the rank of State Minister in the BNP government, was detained at Delhi immigration for over two hours. Even though he was eventually cleared for entry, he had already decided to fly back home.

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This was the first such incident after Tarique Rahman came into power in February this year.

Bangladesh summons Indian envoy

Citing a foreign ministry official, the news agency said that the ministry summoned Indian Deputy High Commissioner Pawan Badhe and expressed its "deep disappointment" over the incident. Badhe arrived at the foreign office in the afternoon when he was handed over the protest letter, Foreign Ministry spokesman Shahidul Karim said.

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Earlier, Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman said that the government was taking appropriate steps regarding the matter. "It is an unexpected incident, unfortunate, too," he told reporters. Citing diplomatic sources, the Prothom Alo newspaper reported that Zahed, who was travelling to India to attend the 28th Meeting of the Committee of Senior Officials of the Indian Ocean Rim Association, was questioned by immigration authorities and kept waiting for about two and a half hours after his name was reportedly flagged during the security check.

Although Indian authorities later allowed him to proceed with his visit, he decided to return home, BSS said, citing sources. The adviser was travelling on a regular Bangladeshi passport with a SAARC visa and was not carrying a diplomatic passport.

(With inputs from agency)

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