Bangladesh Adviser Rahman humiliated, returns home after harassment at Delhi airport
Dhaka/New Delhi,: A fresh diplomatic row has erupted between Bangladesh and India after senior Bangladeshi official Dr Zahed Ur Rahman was subjected to humiliating treatment and prolonged harassment by Indian immigration authorities at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport, forcing him to return home without attending an official international conference.
According to Kashmir Media Service, Prime Minister’s Adviser on Policy and Strategy Affairs, Dr Zahed Ur Rahman, who was leading the Bangladesh delegation to the two-day senior officials’ meeting of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) in New Delhi, was detained and questioned for nearly two hours upon arrival despite prior formal diplomatic clearance.
According to reports, Bangladesh’s High Commission in New Delhi had officially informed India’s Ministry of External Affairs about Dr Zahed’s visit and his role as head of the delegation. However, Indian immigration officials engaged him in aggressive and prolonged questioning, creating an embarrassing situation and showing utter disregard for diplomatic norms.
Frustrated by the hostile treatment, Dr Zahed refused to proceed with the visit despite later attempts by Indian officials to pacify him. He demanded the return of his passport and immediately returned to Dhaka via Colombo on Monday morning. He was originally scheduled to stay in India for four days.
This incident has triggered strong resentment in Bangladesh, with many viewing it as yet another example of Indian high-handedness and arrogance towards its smaller neighbour.
The humiliation of a senior governmental adviser on an official visit has seriously strained bilateral ties and raised fresh questions about India’s diplomatic conduct and respect for protocol.
The episode comes amid already growing tensions between the two countries on multiple fronts including water sharing, border issues, and trade imbalances. Critics in Bangladesh argue that New Delhi’s behaviour reflects a deep-rooted hegemonic mindset that refuses to treat Bangladesh as an equal sovereign nation.
