Bangladesh Appoints Journalist with Critical Views on India as Press Officer in New Delhi

The government led by Tarique Rahman has appointed Saidur Rahman, a journalist known for making critical statements about India, as Minister (Press) at the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi. Rahman, currently Political and Election Affairs Editor at the Daily Ittefaq, has posted on social media questioning India's role in Bangladesh's 1971 Liberation War and calling for the release of convicted war criminal ATM Azharul Islam.

According to a gazette notification by the Ministry of Public Administration, Rahman has been appointed on a contractual basis for one year, effective from the date of joining. The position had been vacant since Faisal Mahmud, appointed by the previous interim government, left in February after his contract was cancelled.

The Indian government is reportedly monitoring the development and has not yet approved Rahman's appointment. This follows a diplomatic row last month when another Bangladesh official, Zahed ur Rahman, left Delhi Airport after a dispute with immigration authorities who detained him for verification due to his past controversial statements about India.

In now-deleted social media posts, Rahman wrote that India staged a 'drama' during the 1971 Liberation War and that Bangladesh had freed itself from 'Indian slavery' after the political transition on August 5, 2024. He also alleged that the former Awami League government, backed by India, was responsible for the 2009 BDR mutiny in which 74 people were killed, and called for the release of ATM Azharul Islam, a convicted war criminal.

The appointment comes amid strained ties between the two countries, following the political change in Bangladesh in August 2024. Diplomatic sources indicate that India is assessing the situation and may raise concerns through bilateral channels.