India explains Zahed’s airport detention

India has clarified its position over the incident involving Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s Information and Broadcasting Adviser Zahed Ur Rahman being held at Delhi airport, saying he was allowed to enter the country after officials confirmed the purpose of his visit.

Responding to a question at the weekly press briefing of India’s Ministry of External Affairs on Tuesday, spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said Zahed arrived in India on June 14 with a personal passport and SAARC visa to attend a senior officials’ meeting of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA).

“He was questioned by immigration officials at Indira Gandhi International Airport. After confirming that his purpose of visit was related to the IORA meeting, he was allowed to enter India. However, he decided to return to Dhaka,” Jaiswal said.

The incident had drawn a diplomatic response from Bangladesh, as the Indian acting High Commissioner in Dhaka, Pavan Badhe, was summoned to the Foreign Ministry the following day. Bangladesh expressed strong dissatisfaction over what it described as an unwelcome incident at the Delhi airport.

Zahed had earlier termed the incident as harassment, saying he had travelled to India not as a private individual but as a representative of the government and the state.

Speaking at a press conference on June 16, he said he decided to return because he believed an immediate protest was necessary, although Indian authorities later tried to convince him to enter the country and attend his scheduled engagements.

TZ