Bangladesh has formally protests to India after a senior adviser to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman was reportedly detained and questioned for several hours upon arrival at New Delhi’s international airport, adding fresh strain to already sensitive relations between the neighbouring countries.
According to Bangladeshi officials, government strategy adviser Zahed Ur Rahman travelled to India to attend a conference but was stopped by authorities at the airport and subjected to questioning before eventually being allowed to continue his journey. Dhaka described the incident as unexpected and raised concerns with Indian diplomats.
Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman termed the episode “unexpected and unfortunate,” while Bangladesh summoned India’s Deputy High Commissioner in Dhaka, Pawan Badhe, to formally convey its objections. Bangladeshi officials said the treatment of a senior government adviser was inconsistent with the spirit of cooperation expected between the two countries.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs did not immediately comment on the matter, leaving unanswered questions about the reasons behind the questioning.
The incident comes at a delicate moment in Bangladesh-India relations. Although ties improved following Tarique Rahman’s election victory earlier this year, several contentious issues continue to affect bilateral engagement. Among them is the status of former Bangladeshi prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who has remained in India since being removed from power during the 2024 uprising.
Bangladesh has repeatedly sought her extradition, while India has not publicly indicated any change in its position. The two nations have also disagreed over migration and border management issues.
Dhaka recently accused Indian authorities of attempting to return undocumented migrants across the border without following agreed repatriation procedures. Bangladeshi officials claim several such attempts have been prevented by border forces.
Despite these disputes, recent talks between Bangladesh and India focused on improving intelligence-sharing and strengthening border coordination. However, the latest airport incident has introduced a new source of diplomatic tension, potentially complicating efforts to maintain positive momentum in bilateral relations.
Observers will be watching closely for any official response from New Delhi and whether the issue affects future engagement between the two South Asian neighbours.