Bangladesh PM’s adviser returns to Dhaka after immigration check at Delhi airport; Dhaka protests

Zahed Ur Rahman, Information and Broadcasting Adviser to Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, returned to Dhaka on Sunday after being stopped at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport for over two hours. Rahman, who holds the rank of a State Minister, was travelling to attend the 28th meeting of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) Committee of Senior Officials. Sources in Dhaka said he was subjected to undiplomatic treatment, which they described as humiliating, and he chose to leave without entering India.

According to the Bangladesh side, Rahman arrived from Dhaka on an Air India flight. At the immigration counter, he was stopped without any immediate explanation. When he asked for a reason, officials said they were verifying certain details. Despite his ministerial status, he was asked to sit in the waiting area alongside other passengers. “After more than two hours of waiting, he was told that he had been cleared. But by then, he was disappointed and decided to return,” a Dhaka source said.

Indian government sources, however, offered a different account. They said the immigration hold was a routine verification procedure triggered by Rahman’s past record of making contentious remarks about India on social media platforms, including YouTube. Officials reportedly reviewed nearly ten pages of his statements before concluding the check. “Given his history of combative comments on India-related issues, immigration authorities needed to verify his details,” an official stated. The official added that despite the delay, Rahman was granted a one-time exemption to enter India, but he had already opted to take a return flight.

Zahed Ur Rahman is a known critic of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who is currently in exile in India. He was appointed as one of ten advisers to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman when the new government assumed office in February. The advisory team includes five State Minister-rank advisers for younger portfolios and five full ministerial-rank senior advisers for key areas such as foreign affairs, security, health, and economic matters. Rahman’s portfolio covers information and broadcasting.

The incident escalated into a diplomatic protest. On Monday, Bangladesh Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman publicly called the treatment “regrettable,” and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned India’s Deputy Chief of Mission Pavan Badhe to lodge a formal complaint. Dhaka demanded an explanation for what it termed a breach of protocol. Indian officials, while not issuing a formal apology, maintained that immigration procedures were followed as per standard norms based on the individual’s background.

Rahman’s return journey was further prolonged as he had to transit through Colombo, spending over 12 hours before reaching Dhaka. Upon arrival, he spoke with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. The episode comes at a time of delicate bilateral relations between the two neighbors, with issues such as cross-border cooperation and regional stability high on the agenda. The IORA meeting, which Rahman was to attend, focuses on maritime cooperation among Indian Ocean littoral states.

The controversy highlights the sensitivities in India-Bangladesh diplomatic engagements, particularly when individuals with a history of public criticism are involved. Neither side has indicated that the incident will affect broader ties, but the diplomatic protest marks a point of friction.