Bangladesh PM’s aide returns from Delhi airport, claims report:Questioned for 2 hours by officials; had arrived for meeting

Dr Zahed Ur Rahman, an advisor to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, was stopped at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport. According to sources, immigration officials asked him to wait in a holding area for about two hours and questioned him on several matters. Afterwards, he requested the return of his passport and decided not to enter India. He later returned to Dhaka via Colombo on Monday morning. Dr Zahed had travelled to Delhi to attend the Senior Officials’ Meeting of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA). High Commission had informed authorities in advance A Bangladesh Foreign Ministry official said that the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi had formally informed India’s Ministry of External Affairs on Friday that Dr Zahed would lead the Bangladeshi delegation at the IORA meeting. Bangladesh’s High Commissioner, M. Riaz Hamidullah, had also spoken with Indian officials regarding the visit. As a result, several senior officials in Dhaka have described the incident as puzzling. They said it was difficult to understand how such a situation arose despite prior official communication. Claim: Zahed’s name was on a security watchlist People close to Dr Zahed claim that his name was on a security watchlist maintained by Indian agencies, leading to additional checks. They allege that he was added to the list because of accusations that he had created or shared anti-India content. However, Indian authorities have neither confirmed nor denied these claims. According to reports, Dr Zahed was travelling on a regular Bangladeshi passport and a SAARC visa, rather than a diplomatic passport. He also did not carry an official government request letter for the visit. Officials at the Bangladesh High Commission in Delhi declined to comment publicly. However, one official, speaking anonymously, said that departments within the mission were unaware of the incident. Officials say Zahed was not mistreated Several sources said that Indian officials did not mistreat Dr Zahed during the process. They suggested that a lack of coordination and communication related to the visit may have contributed to the situation. No official explanation has been issued so far. Government sources in Dhaka said the matter is being reviewed and that further decisions will be taken once all the facts are established. An official clarification from New Delhi is still awaited.