Dhaka (TDI): Bangladesh has formally protested 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 relations between the neighboring countries.
Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister, Khalilur Rahman, described the incident as “unexpected and unfortunate” and said Dhaka had conveyed its concerns to Indian Deputy High Commissioner Pawan Badhe during a meeting on Monday.
According to Bangladeshi officials, government strategy adviser Zahed Ur Rahman was stopped by authorities after arriving in New Delhi to attend a conference. He was reportedly questioned for several hours before being allowed to continue his visit.
Indian authorities have not publicly commented on the matter, and the country’s foreign ministry has yet to issue an official response.
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The episode comes at a delicate moment in ties between the two South Asian neighbors. While relations showed signs of improvement following Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s election victory earlier this year, several contentious issues continue to cloud bilateral relations.
One of the main sources of tension remains the status of former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who has been residing in India since being removed from power during the 2024 uprising. Dhaka has repeatedly sought her extradition, but no agreement has been reached on the matter.
The two countries have also disagreed over migration and border management issues. Bangladesh has accused Indian authorities of attempting to return undocumented migrants across the frontier without following established repatriation procedures.
Bangladeshi officials say border forces have recently prevented several alleged “push-in” attempts and raised the issue during talks held last week in New Delhi between the Border Guard Bangladesh and India’s Border Security Force.
Read More: Bangladesh FM Visits India in Highest-Level Trip Since 2024 Political Shift
Despite ongoing disagreements, both sides agreed during the meetings to enhance intelligence-sharing and strengthen cooperation along the border. However, officials acknowledged that migration-related concerns remain a significant challenge in bilateral relations.
