Bangladesh has summoned a senior Indian diplomat in Dhaka to formally protest the treatment of a top adviser to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, who was reportedly stopped and questioned for several hours upon arrival at New Delhi’s international airport. The incident marks a fresh diplomatic flashpoint between the neighboring nations.
Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman described the episode as “unexpected and unfortunate,” confirming that Dhaka had conveyed its deep concerns to Indian Deputy High Commissioner Pawan Badhe late on Monday.
Adviser Held for Hours Before Clearance
Government strategy adviser Zahed Ur Rahman was intercepted after landing in the Indian capital, where he was scheduled to attend a conference. According to officials, he was detained and subjected to prolonged questioning before finally being permitted to proceed with his visit. There was no immediate official comment from India’s Ministry of External Affairs regarding the incident.
Relations Strained Since 2024 Upheaval
The confrontation unfolds at a particularly delicate juncture in bilateral ties. While relations had shown signs of improvement following Tarique Rahman’s election victory earlier this year, underlying tensions have persisted. The relationship has remained fraught since the 2024 uprising that toppled former prime minister Sheikh Hasina. Hasina has since been residing in India, despite repeated extradition requests from Dhaka.
Border Tensions Compound Diplomatic Friction
The two countries are also locked in a dispute over migration. Bangladesh has accused Indian authorities of attempting to push undocumented migrants across the shared border without adhering to agreed repatriation protocols. Dhaka stated that its border guards have thwarted several recent “push-in” attempts, an issue that was raised directly during last week’s talks between Border Guard Bangladesh and India’s Border Security Force in New Delhi.
Although both sides agreed during those discussions to enhance intelligence-sharing and coordinate border patrols, the migrant issue continues to fuel friction between the neighbors.
