New Delhi: Bangladesh has expressed dissatisfaction with India’s explanation regarding the brief detention of a senior adviser to Prime Minister Muhammad Yunus at New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport earlier this month, stating that the response failed to adequately address the circumstances surrounding the episode.
The incident involved Zahed Ur Rahman, Adviser for Information and Strategy to the Prime Minister, who travelled to India to lead Bangladesh’s delegation at the 28th Meeting of the Committee of Senior Officials of the Indian Ocean Rim Association held in New Delhi on June 15 and 16.
According to Bangladesh, Indian authorities had been informed in advance through diplomatic channels about Rahman’s visit and his role in the multilateral meeting. Dhaka maintains that all required procedures and formalities had been completed before his arrival.
However, upon landing in Delhi on June 14, Rahman was reportedly stopped by immigration officials after his name appeared on a security related watchlist, leading to additional checks and questioning regarding the purpose of his visit.
Bangladesh later lodged a formal protest over the matter, arguing that a senior government representative should not have faced such scrutiny after prior notification had been provided through official channels.
India subsequently clarified that Rahman was travelling on a private passport with a SAARC visa and that immigration authorities sought confirmation regarding the purpose of his visit. After officials verified that he was attending the IORA meeting, he was granted entry into the country.
Indian authorities stated that Rahman was not denied entry and was free to continue with his schedule, but he later chose to return to Dhaka.
The episode has attracted attention due to its diplomatic implications and has added a fresh point of discussion in relations between the neighbouring countries, with Bangladesh continuing to seek further clarification on the matter.
Sorry, there was a YouTube error.
