The government under Tarique Rahman’s leadership has appointed a young journalist as Minister (Press) at the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi. The appointee, journalist Saidur Rahman, has 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 following the political transition in Bangladesh.It is learnt that the Indian government is following the development closely and is yet to approve the appointment of Rahman who had also accused India of destabilising Bangladesh. This follows a the diplomatic row last month over a visit to India by another top Bangladesh official, Zahed ur Rahman.The official had flown out of the Delhi airport in a huff, after a dispute with immigration authorities who held him for “verification” because of his controversial statements about India in the past. According to Indian authorities, Zahed he had been allowed a one-time exemption to enter India but he still chose to return.Saidur Rahman, currently Political and Election Affairs Editor at the Daily Ittefaq, has been appointed Minister (Press) at the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi.In a now-deleted social media post, screenshots of which continue to circulate online, Rahman alleged that India had staged “drama” in the name of cooperation during Bangladesh’s 1971 Liberation War and referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks describing December 16, 1971, as a historic victory for India.“As a Bangladeshi, I declare in clear language that 1971 was our own war of independence. Our pride….the great freedom achieved in exchange for the blood of millions of martyrs and the honor of mothers and sisters…the ropes of Indian slavery were broken and that freedom was fulfilled on August 5, 2024. Today we are free. We did not accept the tyranny of Pakistan or India, nor will we. We are Bangladeshis. Our country is Bangladesh,” he wrote.In another social media post (now deleted), Rahman claimed that a new political force had emerged to perpetuate Indian hegemony. Referring to the 2009 BDR mutiny, he wrote: “On February 25, 74 people, including 57 army officers, were martyred in Peelkhana in the tragic BDR mutiny. It is alleged that the fascist Awami League, fueled by India, killed smart army officers.”He also wrote: “ATM Azhar must be released.”According to a gazette notification issued by the Ministry of Public Administration on Sunday, Saidur Rahman has been appointed on a contractual basis for a one-year term, effective from the date of his joining.The post had remained vacant since the departure of journalist Faisal Mahmud in February, after his contractual appointment was cancelled.Mahmud, who had been appointed by the then interim government, served as Minister (Press) for nearly nine months.
