DHAKA, Oct 7: The flags of 48 Commonwealth countries taking part in a meeting of lawmakers at a downtown venue here flapped happily in the breeze on Tuesday — at least five of them upside down.

Incensed Indian officials protested firstly to journalists, then to organizers and finally to Bangladesh Prime Minister Khaleda Zia before the orange of their national flag was returned to its rightful position at the top of the bunting after it had been hung green-side up.

Officials from the delegations of Australia, Cyprus and Fiji took it upon themselves to invert their own flags which, too, had been given the downside-up treatment.

Host Bangladesh did not escape the organizational glitches — before Prime Minister Khaleda Zia formally opened the conference delegates were asked to stand for the playing of the Bangladeshi national anthem.

When the sound system failed to operate, they were asked to sit down again. Then to stand again, then to sit again, as officials struggled with the now-on, now-off sound system.

Eventually an official with a powerful voice came to the rescue and sang the anthem unaided musically, allowing the programme to proceed.

The Daily Star said that Commonwealth Secretary General Don McKinnon landed at Zia International Airport here on Monday to find no one waiting for him.

Nonplused, he carried his baggage through to VIP lounge where reporters and the official protocol team later found him sitting alone.

Mr McKinnon was then put on a bus carrying other CPA delegates to their hotel — only to find he had no booking.

He was finally rerouted to another hotel, where he had no access to a telephone nor to transport.

Frustrated, he cried out in anger: “Am I a prisoner?” Another delegate then lent him a mobile phone so he could call his family back home.—AFP