Bangladesh summons Indian envoy over detention of PM's adviser at Delhi airport

Bangladesh has summoned India's Deputy High Commissioner in Dhaka to protest the temporary detention of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's adviser, Zahed Ur Rahman, at New Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport.

The development comes after Zahed Ur Rahman, who serves as the Prime Minister's adviser on policy and strategy affairs, was reportedly stopped by immigration authorities on Sunday (June 14) evening after arriving in India to attend an official meeting organised by the Ministry of External Affairs.

Rahman was held for questioning for several hours after his name was flagged during a routine security screening process, reported Bangladesh's state-run BSS news agency.

Questioned at airport

The report further stated that Rahman, a political commentator known for his criticism of former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her administration, was travelling to India on an official invitation.

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According to local media reports, he was carrying a regular Bangladeshi passport with a SAARC visa and was not travelling on a diplomatic passport.

According to the BSS report, Bangladesh called in Indian Deputy High Commissioner Pawan Badhe to convey its concerns over the matter.

Speaking to reporters, Bangladesh's Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman said that the government was examining the incident and taking the necessary steps.

"It is an unexpected incident, unfortunate, too," he added.

Visit for IORA meeting

According to a report by the Bangladeshi daily Prothom Alo, citing diplomatic sources, Rahman had travelled to India to take part in the 28th Meeting of the Committee of Senior Officials of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA).

The report further stated that immigration officials questioned him on arrival and kept him waiting for nearly two-and-a-half hours before permitting him to proceed.

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Although Indian authorities later cleared him to enter the country, Rahman chose not to continue with his scheduled engagements and returned to Bangladesh, according to BSS.

India has not issued any public statement regarding the episode.

Strains in bilateral ties

The incident comes against the backdrop of fluctuating ties between New Delhi and Dhaka. Relations came under strain following the 2024 uprising that led to the removal of Sheikh Hasina's government.

Bilateral engagement improved after Tarique Rahman secured a decisive electoral victory and assumed office, succeeding the interim administration that governed Bangladesh after Hasina's exit.

However, fresh friction has emerged in recent weeks over border-related issues, including India's move to send individuals it identifies as illegal migrants across the frontier into Bangladesh.