Dhaka appointment of press officer could lead to another flashpoint in ties

The government under Tarique Rahman appointed journalist Saidur Rahman as Minister (Press) at the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi.

Saidur Rahman previously made social media posts critical of India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, questioned India's role in Bangladesh's 1971 Liberation War, and called for the release of convicted war criminal ATM Azharul Islam.

The Indian government is yet to approve Rahman's appointment and is following the development closely.

This follows a diplomatic row last month over a visit by another Bangladesh official, Zahed ur Rahman, who left Delhi airport after a dispute with immigration authorities over his past controversial statements about India.

Saidur Rahman, currently Political and Election Affairs Editor at the Daily Ittefaq, alleged in a deleted post that India staged 'drama' during Bangladesh's 1971 Liberation War and said Bangladesh is free from both Pakistani and Indian tyranny.