New Delhi/Dhaka: A diplomatic row erupted between India and Bangladesh after Zahed Ur Rahman, an adviser to Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, was detained by immigration authorities at New Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport before being allowed entry and subsequently deciding to return to Dhaka.
According to reports, Zahed Ur Rahman, who serves as Information and Broadcasting Adviser to the Bangladeshi Prime Minister with the rank of a state minister, had travelled to New Delhi to attend a meeting related to the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA). However, he was stopped by immigration officials upon arrival and subjected to questioning for more than two hours.
Although Indian authorities later cleared him to enter the country, the adviser chose not to proceed with his visit and instead returned to Bangladesh, reportedly via Colombo.
The incident prompted a sharp reaction from Dhaka. Bangladesh's Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Indian High Commissioner and conveyed its displeasure over what it described as the "unexpected and undesirable" treatment meted out to a senior representative of the Bangladeshi government.
"The Government of Bangladesh has expressed deep concern and dissatisfaction over the incident involving the Honourable Adviser to the Prime Minister," The Business Standard quoted the foreign ministry as saying in a statement. The ministry also stressed that such incidents were inconsistent with the spirit of friendly relations between the two neighbouring countries.
Bangladeshi media reports said Zahed Ur Rahman considered the treatment at the airport disrespectful and decided against entering India despite being granted clearance after the verification process.
Indian media reports, citing official sources, said the detention resulted from an administrative issue linked to a security-related watchlist. According to these reports, the adviser's name had previously been removed from a social media monitoring list but had allegedly remained on an immigration database, triggering an alert during routine checks.
"The issue stemmed from an apparent discrepancy in records, which was later resolved and permission to enter India was granted," sources familiar with the matter were quoted as saying.
However, questions remain over how the name of a serving adviser to the Bangladeshi Prime Minister continued to appear on an immigration watchlist despite earlier revisions to official records.
The development comes at a sensitive time in India-Bangladesh relations, with both countries exploring avenues to strengthen bilateral engagement following the formation of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's government earlier this year.
Diplomatic observers noted that while technical errors in immigration databases can occur, the detention of a high-ranking foreign government representative carries broader diplomatic implications.
"There is an expectation that such visits, especially involving senior officials, are facilitated through established diplomatic channels," a former diplomat familiar with South Asian affairs said. "Any deviation from protocol can quickly assume political significance."
Neither the Indian Ministry of External Affairs nor immigration authorities had issued an official public statement on the incident till late Monday.
The episode is likely to feature in ongoing diplomatic exchanges between New Delhi and Dhaka as both sides seek to prevent the incident from affecting broader bilateral ties.
Zahed Ur Rahman was appointed adviser to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in February this year and has been involved in policy and media-related matters within the Bangladesh government.
The incident has triggered extensive debate in both countries, with commentators describing it either as an unfortunate bureaucratic lapse or a diplomatic misstep requiring clarification from the Indian side.
15/06/2026
