By Ashis Biswas
A section of the BNP-led establishment in Bangladesh appears keen to prolong the controversy generated recently over the refusal of an invited diplomat to attend an India-hosted regional conference. The Dhaka-based official Dr. Zahedur Rahman, Information Adviser to Prime Minister Mr. Tarique Rahman had complained of his detention and questioning at New Delhi airport by Indian officials despite being an invitee and decided to return home. .The incident occurred on June 14 at Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi.
If routine briefings by foreign Ministry officials are an indication, both Governments are keen not to let the incident snowball into a bitter argument. On India’s side, once certain details had been checked, Dr, Rahman was repeatedly requested to join the regional conference of Ocean Rim countries organised by India. Rahman himself admitted this, despite defending his decision not to attend and return home via Colombo.
In the Bangladeshi media, Prime Minister Mr Rahman, was widely reported as having advised Dr Zahed not to blow up the issue and let it, be handled according to protocol. In Delhi, too, MEA spokesmen explained how an unfortunate misunderstanding had occurred, but the problem had been resolved.
Nonetheless, continuing media reports and analyses by the Dhaka-based commentators carry a different, more critical message from India’s smaller neighbour.
A Bangladesh Foreign Affairs spokesman told the local press about 72 hours ago that India’s ‘explanation’ of the matter had not been ‘satisfactory’. The incident, according to him was’ unexpected and regrettable’. In Kolkata, observers felt such comments suggested that instead of Delhi’s ‘explanation’, an apology would have been more appropriate for Dhaka.
Further, coming so many days after the mix-up, which had been widely reported in both countries, the timing of the latest Bangladeshi argument is a new, critical factor. Such a delayed reaction is often a sure sign that people within the Bangladesh Nationalist Party-led government may be facing pressures at home from the powerful Jamaat-e-Islami lobby and other anti India groups to escalate what so far has remained a controlled exchange of words relating to a minor incident within the context of Indo-Bangla relations.
Dr Zahed is on strong ground as he firmly maintains that he had been an invitee to the conference. India had been officially informed by .Bangladesh government naming him as its official representative. There was therefore no reason for his detention and the detailed round of questioning he had to undergo.
While this version is true and suggests that Delhi authorities should have been more alert in dealing with an invited foreign diplomat the story is not complete without India’s somewhat different version of what had happened.
Apparently Dr Zahed who incidentally is reputed as an anti India hawk in regional foreign policy and related matters to the media, had not mentioned his own role in creating a confusion about his exact status to Indian airport security authorities.. Instead of the usual green Bangladeshi diplomatic passport, he was carrying a red passport, which is issued for all Bangladeshi citizens!
Normally diplomats do not carry such red passports while on official duty, as Dr. Zahed undoubtedly was. Red passport holders are not allowed to use the select exit points, or use the facilities of the VIP lounge, or indeed enjoy the special VIP facilities reserved for foreign diplomats/visiting foreign Ministers/dignitaries/ leaders in international airports. Delhi’s airport, was no exception. Dr Zahed, was asked to wait by security officials, before they decided to check his claims of being an on- duty diplomat,.
The first question was whether he was really invited as Dhaka’s representative to the India-sponsored event? The answer was affirmative. Point one to Dr. Zahed and Bangladesh.
However, the next natural question was, why had the diplomat was using an ordinary citizen’s passport, without bringing his diplomatic passport? Dr Zahed, according to sources familiar with the incident, could not — rather, would not — answer. Was he coming on a personal visit? In that case he would have to use normal exit and entry points and be subject to luggage checks etc instead of seeking normal VIP privileges. But why was he without his green passport and was his visit a personal one? Was he visiting his friends, business contacts or relatives in India?
To all these questions, Dr Zahed could not or would not, provide any answer. One of his references in India turned out to be a person connected to stone-based industries in India. What was Dr, Zahed’s business with him? No answer again.
In view of these facts, (later reported in the Bangladeshi social media), was it fair for Bangladesh Government or Dr Zahed himself, to claim that the behaviour and attitude of Indian security officials had been improper and unacceptable? Given his familiar anti-Indian inclinations as seen in the past, was he trying to create a needless and entirely avoidable ‘controversy’ vis-a vis India, the big, hated neighbour just across the border?
Surely it is for Dr, Zahed and high level officials in Dhaka to answer such questions. (IPA Service)
