Bangladesh Objects After Adviser Held at Delhi Airport
- By Thetripurapost Desk, New Delhi
- Jun 15, 2026
- 126
A diplomatic tension has emerged between Bangladesh and India after Bangladesh’s government summoned India’s Acting High Commissioner Government of India Pawan Badhe over the questioning and temporary detention of senior Bangladeshi official Dr. Zaheedur Rahman at Delhi airport.
Dhaka has raised strong objections, calling for clarification over the treatment of its delegation member who had travelled to India for an official regional meeting.
What Happened at Delhi Airport?
Dr. Zaheedur Rahman, Information Adviser to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, arrived in New Delhi to attend the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) meeting.
Upon arrival, immigration authorities subjected him to extended secondary screening that lasted nearly two hours. Although he was later cleared to enter, he refused to proceed further and requested the return of his passport before leaving India.
He subsequently returned to Dhaka via Colombo.
Bangladesh Raises Diplomatic Objection
The Government of Bangladesh formally called in India’s Acting High Commissioner to express dissatisfaction over the incident.
Officials from Dhaka stated that prior intimation of Dr. Zaheed’s visit had already been shared with Indian authorities through diplomatic channels.
Bangladesh High Commissioner M. Riaz Hamidullah is also reported to have communicated regarding the visit before the incident occurred.
Watchlist Allegation Under Scrutiny
Sources close to the matter claim that Dr. Zaheed’s name may have appeared on an internal security watchlist, which allegedly triggered additional scrutiny at immigration.
He is also said to have been previously associated with allegations related to anti-India content dissemination. However, there has been no official confirmation from Indian authorities regarding these claims.
Travel Documents and Status
Reports indicate that Dr. Zaheed was travelling on a regular Bangladeshi passport under a SAARC visa arrangement, not a diplomatic passport.
Officials also clarified that no separate official clearance request specific to his entry was registered at the time of travel.
No Misconduct Alleged by Indian Officials
Multiple sources suggest that Indian immigration officials did not engage in any improper conduct during the verification process.
The incident is being attributed by some observers to possible coordination gaps between agencies and diplomatic communication channels.
Ongoing Review in Dhaka
The Government of Bangladesh has confirmed that the matter is under internal review and further decisions will be taken after verification of all facts.
An official clarification from New Delhi is still awaited, and diplomatic channels remain active.
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