Incident involving Adviser Zahed unwanted, regrettable; Delhi's explanation not satisfactory: Dhaka

Bangladesh today (24 June) described India's explanation regarding the return of Prime Minister's Adviser on Policy and Strategy Affairs Dr Zahed Ur Rahman from New Delhi as "unsatisfactory", saying the incident at Delhi airport was both "unwanted and regrettable".

"The Indian authorities were duly informed in advance through diplomatic channels that Dr Zahed would lead the Bangladesh delegation to the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) meeting. 

However, the incident involving him at the Delhi airport is unwanted and regrettable," a spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) told UNB.

The spokesperson said remarks made by the official spokesperson of India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) regarding the incident has been noted.

"The explanation regarding the return of Prime Minister's Adviser Dr Zahed from Delhi airport is not satisfactory," the MoFA spokesperson said.

Responding to remarks made by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs concerning minorities in Bangladesh, the MoFA spokesperson said Bangladesh believes that every state bears an equal responsibility to protect and ensure the rights and security of all citizens, including minorities, residing within its territory.

"The Bangladesh government is always striving to protect and ensure the rights and security of all citizens of the country, including minorities," he added.

On minority issues, the MEA spokesperson said they have seen reports emerging from Bangladesh that certain acts of desecration were committed involving Hindu deities and their images, which subsequently led to protests.

"Our view, and indeed our expectation, is that the government of Bangladesh will take effective measures to rein in extremist elements and ensure the safety and security of the minority communities living in the country," he told reporters in New Delhi.

India yesterday acknowledged that Dr Zahed was queried by immigration officials at Delhi airport and subsequently permitted entry after reconfirming that the purpose of his visit was to attend a multilateral meeting.

"He, however, chose to return to Dhaka on his own volition," official spokesperson at the Indian Ministry of External Affairs Randhir Jaiswal told reporters during a regular media briefing in New Delhi.

Jaiswal said the Adviser arrived in India on June 14 on a 'private passport' with a SAARC visa to attend the 28th Meeting of the Committee of Senior Officials of the Indian Ocean Rim Association.

The Ministry of External Affairs of India hosted the 28th Meeting of the Committee of Senior Officials (CSO) of the Indian Ocean Rim Association on June 15-16 in New Delhi.

The meeting brought together senior government officials from IORA Member States to review progress, discuss regional priorities, and advance cooperation across the Indian Ocean region under the theme of Innovation, Openness, Resilience & Adaptability.

On June 16, Adviser Dr Zahed said he decided to return home from New Delhi as an instant protest, stressing that this is a government with an overwhelming majority and popular mandate, not the Sheikh Hasina government.

"I did not go there as an individual; I went as a representative of the government. Therefore, what happened to me there required an instant protest…. just to give a message that I was maltreated and was not treated appropriately. That is why I decided to return," he told reporters at a press conference at the Press Information Department (PID) conference room at the Secretariat.

He said that after a certain point, the Indian authorities made repeated efforts sincerely to persuade him to enter the country and continue with his scheduled engagements.

"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.