Bangladesh to attend BIMSTEC security meeting in India amid diplomatic concerns

Bangladesh is set to participate in the BIMSTEC National Security Advisers' meeting in New Delhi on July 16, despite recent diplomatic friction with India.

The decision to attend comes after an incident at Delhi airport involving Dr. Zahed Ur Rahman, an adviser to the Bangladeshi prime minister, whose return from India was described by Dhaka as "unsatisfactory," "unwanted," and "regrettable." Bangladesh had informed Indian authorities in advance about Rahman's travel for an Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) meeting.

Brig Gen (Retd) AKM Shamsul Islam, the Prime Minister's Defence Adviser, will represent Bangladesh at the BIMSTEC meeting. As the current chair of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), Bangladesh feels obliged to participate.

A diplomatic source indicated that Bangladesh will closely observe India's handling of the visit, viewing it as an "important consideration" for future high-level interactions between the two nations. Dhaka has requested appropriate support for its delegation, emphasizing the importance of maintaining international diplomatic norms and protocol.

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The Indian authorities were duly informed in advance through diplomatic channels that Zahed would lead the Bangladesh delegation to the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) meeting. However, the incident involving him at the Delhi airport is unwanted and regrettable.