I returned from India immediately in protest, says PM’s Advisor Zahed

Prime Minister's Information Advisor Zahed Ur Rahman says he returned to Bangladesh after he was held up at New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport because he felt it was necessary to immediately protest his “discourteous” treatment.

At a press conference at the Secretariat on Tuesday, a day after returning home, Zahed said he believed the incident would not have any impact on relations between the two countries.

The briefing, organised to highlight the government's position on different current affairs, turned to the incident in Delhi on Sunday as journalists kept asking the advisor about his experience.

Zahed said the incident unfolded “exactly” as reported in the Bangladeshi and Indian media.

"I did not go there as an individual, I went as a representative of this government, as a representative of the state. As a result, I felt that we needed to protest immediately about what happened to me there. That is why I actually decided to back out,” he said.

"Although you have seen in the media, at one stage they tried very hard to get me to enter India and participate in my regular activities. But I did not do that, because I felt, and I repeat - I was not thinking of myself as an individual, but as an advisor to the prime minister of this government. Then I felt that there should be a message from this state or government."

Explaining his reasoning, the advisor said: "I never intended for this to create a very negative situation. I feel a message needs to be sent to everyone in and outside this country - this is not Sheikh Hasina's government, this is a government mandated by the people.”

Asked whether the incident could affect relations between the two countries, Zahed said: "Personally, I do not think it should affect relations in any way. As I have already said, an unfortunate situation arose, and I took this step on behalf of the state and the government as an immediate response.

"From our side, I do not want to comment further on what may happen next or what steps may or may not be taken. As you have already seen, the matter is now being handled by the foreign ministry."

He said, "The foreign ministry is doing everything that needs to be done. It has made a statement about it. You have seen that they are communicating with the High Commission. They will actually determine how the government will react.

“But I expect that the impact of this incident will be on the future engagement of the two countries - I speak about engagement, in such relations, engagement is important - that engagement will not be affected."