India Says Bangladesh Adviser Was Cleared at Delhi Airport and Returned Voluntarily

Overview

• Zahed Ur Rahman, adviser to Bangladesh's prime minister, arrived in Delhi on June 14 for an IORA meeting and was questioned by immigration officers at Indira Gandhi International Airport before being cleared to enter, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs said on June 23.
• India's MEA said Rahman chose to fly back to Dhaka of his own volition after being permitted entry, while Bangladesh lodged a formal protest and summoned a senior Indian diplomat to register its displeasure.
• Media reports said Rahman's name triggered a security alert and that he traveled on a private (non‑diplomatic) passport with a SAARC visa, but the MEA's latest statement did not confirm a watchlist placement.
• Rahman told reporters he returned as a protest because he travelled in an official capacity yet stressed he did not want the episode to damage India–Bangladesh ties and said he would consider visiting again if procedures were respected.
• The episode highlights how routine immigration checks can become diplomatic flashpoints and could prompt clearer protocol between the two missions to avoid recurring misunderstandings during multilateral visits.