Bangladesh has summoned a senior Indian diplomat in Dhaka to protest the detention and questioning of a government adviser at New Delhi airport, adding further strain to an already tense bilateral relationship.
Government strategy adviser Zahed Ur Rahman was stopped upon arrival in New Delhi, where he had travelled to attend a conference and was held for several hours before being allowed to proceed.
Foreign Minister (FM) Khalilur Rahman described the incident as “unexpected and unfortunate”.
Dhaka formally conveyed its concerns to Indian Deputy High Commissioner Pawan Badhe late Monday. India’s foreign ministry had not responded at the time of reporting.
The episode comes at a delicate moment in relations between the two neighbours. Ties have remained strained since the 2024 uprising that ousted former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who is residing in India despite repeated Bangladeshi requests for her extradition.
Relations showed some signs of improvement following Prime Minister (PM) Tarique Rahman’s election victory earlier this year, but certain tensions have persisted.
The two countries have also been at odds over Bangladesh’s allegations that Indian authorities have attempted to push undocumented migrants across the border without following agreed repatriation procedures.
Dhaka said that border guards foiled several recent push-in attempts and raised the matter during talks between the Border Guard Bangladesh and India’s Border Security Force in New Delhi last week.
Both sides agreed during the talks to strengthen intelligence-sharing and coordinate border patrols, though the migrant issue remains unresolved.
