Bangladeshi High Commissioner Has No Clue about Murad's Entry into Canada

Former Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Dr Murad Hassan has reportedly been turned away from Pearson International Airport in Toronto, Canada.

In this regard, the High Commissioner of Bangladesh in Canada Dr. Khalilur Rahman said, whether Murad Hasan has come to this country, whether he has been able to enter or where he is if he can enter; we have no information on this regard.

"We have seen various reports in the newspapers about Murad Hasan coming to Canada," he said. A newspaper says he was interrogated at immigration. Another newspaper says he is in Montreal. Besides, the Bangladesh government did not inform the embassy about his visit.

"We have good communication with the Canadian immigration authorities," he said. We must have been notified if anything else had happened. The embassy was immediately contacted if any Bangladeshi was in danger in Canada. But the authorities have not contacted us about this.

In the face of controversy, Murad resigned as state minister on December 7. On the night of 9 December, he left Dhaka for Canada on a diplomatic passport.

However, it is reported that he was turned away from Pearson International Airport in Toronto on Friday (December 10). Citing relatives of Murad living in Canada, the Canadian-based online portal 'Notun Desh' reports.

Murad arrived at Toronto Pearson International Airport on a United Arab Emirates flight around 1.30pm on Friday, the report said. He was taken into custody by Canadian Immigration and Border Services Agency officials for questioning. He was interrogated for a long time.

It said Murad was informed at the time that many Canadians had strongly objected to the government's decision to allow Murad to enter the country. At one point, Murad was flown on a plane to a Middle Eastern country by officials from the Canadian Immigration and Border Services Agency.