Published: 12:09 AM, 04 May 2026
OCAB President Nazrul barred from boarding overseas flight
Founding Editor of daily English newspaper Times of Bangladesh and President of Overseas Correspondents Association of Bangladesh (OCAB) Nazrul Islam was allegedly subjected to harassment at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka on Sunday (3 May 2026) which was coincidentally World Press Freedom Day. This instance has sparked worries and trepidations about the free movement of journalists and media professionals' basic rights.
According to Nazrul Islam, he was halted at the Immigration Counter at the airport after he received his boarding pass yesterday. Later on senior police officers and intelligence division functionaries started scrutinizing his background. Nazrul Islam further said that he was interrogated by officers belonging to National Security Intelligence (NCI) and military espionage agency DGFI members too.
Nazrul Islam complained to reporters that the immigration authorities and the intelligence officers delayed him by longer than one hour without showing specific reasons. Nazrul Islam's passport was returned to him after nearly two hours. As it was too late, he went back home instead of being able to board his flight for China.
Nazrul Islam has stated that obstructing him irrationally at the Dhaka Airport violates humanitarian code of conduct. Official statements from the authorities concerned could not be obtained while this report was being written but causing hindrances to a senior journalist like Nazrul Islam at the airport has meanwhile triggered a great deal of criticism and astonishment. Netizens have termed it as an undue impediment imposed on a noted media professional and a challenge to press freedom.
