Bangladesh Finds India's Explanation Inadequate After PM Adviser's Airport Detention Episode
Dhaka disputes India's account of adviser detention incident.
Bangladesh has described India's explanation regarding the detention of Prime Minister’s Adviser for Information and Strategy Zahed Ur Rahman at New Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport as “unsatisfactory”, calling the incident “unfortunate and regrettable.” The development has added a diplomatic dimension to relations between the two neighbouring countries, with Dhaka formally conveying its concerns to New Delhi over the matter.
According to Bangladesh's state-run news agency, Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS), a spokesperson for the country's foreign ministry said that the government had informed Indian authorities through diplomatic channels that Rahman would lead the Bangladesh delegation at the 28th Meeting of the Committee of Senior Officials of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA). Dhaka maintains that the visit was officially communicated in advance and that the adviser was travelling in his official capacity to participate in the regional gathering.
The incident reportedly occurred earlier this month when Rahman arrived at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi. Immigration officials allegedly stopped him after his name appeared on a security-related watchlist. He was subsequently questioned by authorities before additional verification was carried out regarding the purpose of his visit. The detention prompted concerns in Bangladesh, which later lodged a formal protest with India over the handling of the matter.
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Responding to the controversy, India's Ministry of External Affairs stated that Rahman was eventually cleared to enter the country after the necessary checks were completed. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said Rahman arrived in India on June 14 using a private passport and a SAARC visa to attend the IORA meeting. According to the Indian side, he was questioned as part of standard procedures and subsequently granted entry after officials reconfirmed the purpose of his visit.
However, Indian authorities said Rahman decided to return to Dhaka despite being allowed entry into the country. "He, however, chose to return to Dhaka of his own volition," Jaiswal told reporters during his weekly media briefing. Bangladesh, meanwhile, has continued to express dissatisfaction with the explanation provided, arguing that the circumstances surrounding the detention were not adequately addressed.
The incident occurred around the time India hosted the 28th Meeting of the Committee of Senior Officials of the Indian Ocean Rim Association in New Delhi on June 15 and 16. The gathering brought together representatives from member countries to discuss regional cooperation and shared priorities. While both governments have publicly outlined their respective positions, the episode highlights the diplomatic sensitivities that can arise during official visits and underscores the importance of coordination through established diplomatic channels.
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