DHAKA, Bangladesh: Bangladesh summoned India’s envoy on Monday to protest against the mistreatment of an advisor to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at New Delhi’s main international airport in the latest spat between the South Asian neighbours.
Bangladesh Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman described the incident as an “unexpected and unfortunate” development, Bangladesh’s state-run BSS news agency reported.
BSS reported that Bangladesh’s foreign ministry summoned Indian Deputy High Commissioner Pawan Badhe following the mistreatment with Dr Zahed Ur Rahman, a strategy advisor to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.
According to Bangladeshi media reports, Dr Zahed was stopped by immigration authorities at New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport after arriving in India to attend the Senior Officials’ Meeting of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA).
Officials said he was asked to wait in a holding area for about two hours and was questioned on several matters.
After two hours, Indian authorities allowed him to proceed with his visit, Dr Zahed requested the return of his passport and decided not to enter India. He subsequently returned to Dhaka via Colombo on Monday morning.
BSS reported that Dr Zahed had travelled to New Delhi as the head of Bangladesh’s delegation to the IORA meeting.
A Bangladesh Foreign Ministry official said the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi had formally informed India’s Ministry of External Affairs on Friday that Dr Zahed would lead the country’s delegation at the gathering.
The official added that Bangladesh’s High Commissioner to India, M. Riaz Hamidullah, had also communicated with Indian authorities regarding the visit beforehand.
Several senior officials in Dhaka described the incident as puzzling, saying it was difficult to understand how such a situation could arise despite prior official communication and coordination between the two governments.
The episode comes against the backdrop of strained relations between New Delhi and Dhaka since the political upheaval in Bangladesh in 2024.
Relations deteriorated after a youth-led uprising ended the long autocratic rule of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who had maintained close ties with India during her time in office.
Hasina fled Bangladesh during the unrest and has remained in India since then.
Bangladesh has repeatedly sought her extradition to face legal proceedings after she was convicted of crimes against humanity, but New Delhi has not acted on those requests, contributing to tensions between the neighbours.
Relations have also been tested by border issues, including India’s decision to forcefully send back Bangladeshi migrants.
