Diplomacy – Bangladesh Calls India’s Response on Adviser Detention Inadequate
Diplomacy – Bangladesh has expressed dissatisfaction with India’s explanation regarding the temporary detention of the prime minister’s adviser for information and strategy, Zahed Ur Rahman, at New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport, describing the episode as both unfortunate and regrettable.
Bangladesh Raises Concerns Over Airport Incident
The government in Dhaka has formally conveyed its concerns to New Delhi after Rahman was briefly stopped by immigration authorities while travelling to India to participate in the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) meeting. According to Bangladesh’s state-run news agency, Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS), a spokesperson from the foreign ministry said the explanation provided by India did not adequately address the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Officials in Bangladesh maintained that the visit had already been communicated through diplomatic channels before Rahman’s arrival. The government stated that India had been informed that the adviser would lead the Bangladeshi delegation at the 28th Meeting of the Committee of Senior Officials of IORA.
Immigration Verification at Delhi Airport
Reports indicate that Rahman was stopped by immigration officials after his name reportedly appeared on a security-related watchlist. Authorities conducted questioning to verify his identity and the purpose of his visit before allowing him to enter the country.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs later clarified that the verification process was completed successfully and permission to enter India was granted. However, Rahman subsequently decided to return to Dhaka instead of continuing with his official engagement.
India Explains Sequence of Events
Speaking during the ministry’s weekly media briefing, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said Rahman arrived in India on June 14 using a private passport along with a SAARC visa for participation in the IORA meeting.
Jaiswal explained that immigration officials carried out routine verification after the adviser’s arrival. Once the purpose of his visit was confirmed, he was cleared for entry into India. According to the ministry, the decision to travel back to Bangladesh was made by Rahman himself after the verification process had concluded.
Formal Protest Submitted by Dhaka
Bangladesh had previously lodged an official protest with the Indian government over the matter, reiterating that all necessary diplomatic notifications regarding Rahman’s visit had been completed in advance. Dhaka has continued to stress that the treatment of its senior representative during an official visit raised concerns that deserved a more satisfactory explanation.
The foreign ministry spokesperson said Bangladesh considered the development regrettable and expected such situations to be avoided in the future, particularly during visits involving high-ranking government representatives attending international meetings.
IORA Meeting Focused on Regional Cooperation
The Ministry of External Affairs hosted the 28th Meeting of the Committee of Senior Officials of the Indian Ocean Rim Association in New Delhi on June 15 and 16. Representatives from member nations gathered to discuss issues related to regional cooperation, maritime collaboration, economic development, and other areas of shared interest across the Indian Ocean region.
Despite the airport incident involving Rahman, the meeting proceeded as scheduled, bringing together officials from participating countries to strengthen cooperation and dialogue within the regional grouping.