Dhaka: Bangladesh has lodged a formal protest with India. The foreign ministry in Dhaka summoned Indian Deputy High Commissioner Pawan Badhe on Monday. The protest was over the detention of Bangladesh Prime Minister's tipster Zahed Ur Rahman at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi.
What had happened at the airport?
Zahed Ur Rahman had travelled to New Delhi to shepherd the 28th meeting of the Committee of Senior Officials of the Indian Ocean Rim Association. He landed at IGI Airport but was stopped at security. His name had theoretically shown up on a watchlist. He was held for questioning for nearly two and a half hours. Eventually, Indian authorities cleared him and unliable him to proceed. But by then the forfeiture was done. Rahman decided not to shepherd the meetings he had come for. He returned to Bangladesh on Monday itself.
How Bangladesh reacted?
Bangladesh's foreign wires tipster Khalilur Rahman tabbed the incident tightly regrettable. The summons was issued to Pawan Badhe who is currently serving as vicarial High Commissioner. The newly scheduled Indian High Commissioner Dinesh Trivedi arrived in Bangladesh via the Benapole land port on June 12 to replace outgoing High Commissioner Pranay Verma. He has not yet presented his credentials to the Bangladesh President so Badhe is still holding charge.
Bad timing for both countries?
This incident has come at a particularly worrisome moment. Both India and Bangladesh have been trying to strengthen ties. Just days surpassing this episode Bangladesh's foreign wires tipster Humayun Kabir had spoken well-nigh the need for a positive relationship between the two neighbors. He had stressed that regional cooperation requires both countries to work together. The detention of a senior Bangladeshi official on Indian soil has now tint a shadow over those efforts and given observers plenty to talk about.
