Bangladesh PM Adviser Briefly Stopped at Delhi Airport, Returns Home Despite Clearance

A senior adviser to Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman returned to Dhaka after being briefly stopped by immigration authorities at New Delhi's Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport, despite reportedly receiving clearance to enter India later.

The incident has drawn attention in both countries, particularly as it comes during a period of changing political dynamics and evolving diplomatic relations between India and Bangladesh.

According to reports, the adviser had travelled to New Delhi to attend an official meeting of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) but chose to abandon the visit after being held at the airport for several hours.

Adviser Was Travelling for an Official Meeting

According to a report by Bangladesh-based newspaper Prothom Alo, Zahed Ur Rahman, who serves as the Prime Minister's Adviser on Information, Broadcasting and Culture, arrived in New Delhi on Sunday evening.

His visit was scheduled for participation in the 28th Meeting of the Committee of Senior Officials of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), hosted by India's Ministry of External Affairs on June 15 and 16.

However, shortly after his arrival at the airport, immigration officials reportedly stopped him for verification checks.

Held at Airport for Several Hours

Citing diplomatic sources in both Dhaka and New Delhi, Prothom Alo reported that Rahman was held by Indian immigration authorities for around two-and-a-half hours after landing at IGI Airport.

The report added that higher authorities later intervened and clearance was eventually granted for him to enter the country. Despite this, Rahman reportedly decided not to continue with his planned visit.

Instead, he boarded an Air India flight to Colombo, Sri Lanka, before returning to Dhaka on Monday morning.

According to the report, he reached Colombo early Monday and later completed his journey back to Bangladesh.

Bangladesh Had Informed India in Advance

Reports suggest that Bangladesh had completed the necessary diplomatic formalities ahead of the visit. According to Prothom Alo, the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi had formally informed India's Ministry of External Affairs about Rahman's trip through a diplomatic note sent on Friday.

The newspaper also reported that Bangladesh High Commissioner M. Riaz Hamidullah had communicated with the relevant Indian authorities before the visit.

So far, Indian officials have not issued any public statement regarding the incident or the reasons behind the temporary hold-up at the airport.

Dhaka Calls the Incident 'Unfortunate'

The matter has also drawn a response from the Bangladesh government. According to a report by The Daily Star, Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman described the episode as "unfortunate" and said the issue was being handled through diplomatic channels.

Speaking to the media, he said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was taking appropriate steps to address the matter.

"It is an unexpected incident, unfortunate, too," he was quoted as saying.
The statement indicates that Dhaka is seeking clarity over the circumstances that led to the delay at the airport.

Incident Comes Amid Changing India-Bangladesh Relations

The development is being closely watched because it comes during a new phase in bilateral relations between the two neighbouring countries. Earlier this year, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) returned to power, leading to changes in the country's political landscape.

The airport episode is reportedly the first publicly known instance involving a senior official of the BNP-led government encountering difficulties while entering India since the change of government.

Although there has been no official indication that the incident will affect broader diplomatic ties, it has generated discussion about the evolving nature of India-Bangladesh relations.

Diplomatic Channels Remain Active

Despite the temporary disruption, both countries continue to engage through established diplomatic mechanisms. The fact that the matter is being addressed through official channels suggests that efforts are underway to clarify the circumstances surrounding the incident.

For now, questions remain over why the adviser was initially stopped despite prior diplomatic communication and why he ultimately chose to return home after being granted entry clearance.

As neither Indian authorities nor the Bangladesh government have provided further details, more clarity is expected only after official statements or the completion of diplomatic consultations.