NEW DELHI/DHAKA: In what is likely to further aggravate India-Bangladesh tensions, Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman’s adviser Zahed ur Rahman flew out of Delhi airport in a huff, after a dispute with immigration authorities who held him for “verification” because of his controversial statements about India in the past.While Zahed exited taking a flight to Colombo Sunday night on his way back — apparently because he was made to wait in a public place for over 2 hours — it’s learnt that he had been allowed a one-time exemption to enter India but he chose to return.Dhaka Monday summoned Indian charge d’affaires Pawan Badhe to convey “strong displeasure” over the alleged treatment meted out to Zahed, a policy and strategy adviser to PM Tarique.Zahed had arrived in Delhi Sunday evening, on a regular Bangladeshi (green) passport with a SAARC visa, leading an official Bangladesh delegation for a meeting of the Indian Ocean Rim Association. His name was included in the immigration watchlist earlier for anti-India statements from his YouTube platform, like calling PM Narendra Modi a fascist and accusing India of playing the Hindu card. He had also claimed that India wanted to destabilise Bangladesh and Adani group’s profits from its projects in Bangladesh were going to BJP and RSS.Bangladesh foreign minister Khalilur Rahman described the incident as “unexpected and unfortunate” as his ministry summoned Badhe.The development has the potential to throw the relationship into a deeper turmoil.Despite efforts for a pragmatic reset since the Tarique govt assumed office, the two countries have struggled to address the feelings of mistrust because of a raft of issues, Dhaka’s warming of ties with Pakistan and its possible China pivot.Bangladesh high commissioner to India M Riaz Hamidullah was at the airport to receive Zahed. Bangladesh foreign ministry said it is taking appropriate steps regarding the matter. India’s ministry of external affairs had not officially made any comment on the issue till late in the evening.Bangladesh state minister for foreign affairs Shama Obaed Islam said the incident is certainly not “welcoming”, and they do not expect this kind of incident to happen. “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.After disembarking, Zahed was escorted to the immigration area, where he submitted his passport for entry clearance. Despite repeated requests from immigration officials later to enter India, he declined to do so.
