India Speaks Out on Advisor Zahed Issue

India has broken its silence on the incident involving Bangladesh's Prime Minister's Advisor for Information and Broadcasting, Zahed Ur Rahman, who was kept waiting at Delhi Airport. Without directly acknowledging any lapse, India stated that he was granted entry into the country after necessary scrutiny. On Tuesday, during a weekly briefing, Indian Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal denied any negligence on India's part regarding the matter. In the same briefing, New Delhi also commented on the security of minorities in Bangladesh.

During the briefing, journalists asked him about the complications that arose at the airport last week when a Bangladeshi official of ministerial rank arrived with a SAARC visa. They inquired whether a foreign representative of ministerial rank could arrive without a diplomatic passport and with a SAARC visa, and what the Ministry's position was on the matter.

In response, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson, in a somewhat casual tone, said: "He came here on June 14 with a personal passport and a SAARC visa. He had come to attend the meeting of senior officials of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA). Immigration officials at Delhi Airport questioned him. Subsequently, after confirming that his purpose of visiting India was for the IORA meeting, he was granted entry into India. However, at that time, he decided to return to Dhaka."

During the same briefing, Jaiswal also commented on the controversy surrounding the construction of an 81-foot tall statue of Ram at a temple complex in Palashbari, Gaibandha district.

On this matter, he remarked: "We have seen that some incidents have taken place involving Hindu deities. There have been protests there. We hope that the government of Bangladesh will control the extremists there and ensure the security of minorities."