Prime minister’s adviser on Information and Broadcasting Zahed Ur Rahman on Tuesday said that he returned to Bangladesh without entering India in protest against harassment after being made to wait for nearly two and a half hours at Delhi airport.
He made the remarks while responding to questions at a press briefing on the progress of various government activities at the Press Information Department conference room at the Secretariat.
Zahed said that although India should be cautious about such incidents, the episode should not affect bilateral engagement between the two countries.
The adviser travelled to New Delhi on Sunday to attend a two-day meeting of senior officials of the Indian Ocean Rim Association.
However, he was initially denied entry and kept waiting for nearly two and a half hours at Indira Gandhi International Airport.
According to officials, Bangladesh had informed India’s Ministry of External Affairs about the visit at least two days in advance.
Although Indian authorities later granted permission for his entry following higher-level intervention, Zahed declined to enter India and returned to Dhaka.
Referring to the incident, Zahed said that reports published in Bangladeshi and Indian media accurately reflected what had happened.
‘I did not go there as an individual. I went as a representative of this government and of this state. What happened to me required an immediate protest from our side, and that is why I decided to return,’ he said.
He added that Indian authorities later made considerable efforts to facilitate his entry and participation in the scheduled programme, but he chose not to proceed.
‘This was not a personal decision. As an adviser to the prime minister, I felt that there needed to be a clear signal from the state and the government,’ he said.
Zahed said that his decision was not intended to create any negative or retaliatory situation but to convey a message that the current government had received a mandate from the people and should be treated accordingly.
He said that Bangladesh sought constructive relations with all countries and did not want hostility with any nation.
Referring to the government’s slogan, ‘Bangladesh First’, he said that Bangladesh’s interests would always remain the top priority and that relations with other countries would be guided by mutual interests and respect.
‘This government will not pursue relations with any country in a way that compromises the state’s dignity and self-respect or harms Bangladesh’s interests,’ he said.
Asked whether the incident could strain bilateral ties, Zahed said that it should not.
He said that the matter had already been referred to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which was taking the necessary diplomatic steps.
‘The government will decide the extent of its response. However, I expect that this incident will not affect future engagement between the two countries,’ he said.