DHAKA (Reuters) – Bangladesh has summoned a senior Indian diplomat posted in Dhaka to protest against the treatment of an adviser ​to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman who was reportedly detained ‌and questioned for several hours at New Delhi airport, in the latest diplomatic row between the neighbours.
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Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman described the incident as “unexpected ​and unfortunateâ€, while Dhaka formally conveyed its concerns to ​Indian Deputy High Commissioner Pawan Badhe late on Monday.
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Government â strategy adviser Zahed Ur Rahman was stopped upon arrival in ​New Delhi, where he had travelled to attend a conference, ​and was questioned for several hours before being allowed to proceed, officials said.
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There was no immediate response from India’s foreign ministry.
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The incident comes at a ​sensitive time in bilateral relations. Although ties improved after Tarique ​Rahman’s election victory earlier this year, relations have remained strained since the ‌2024 â uprising that ousted former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who has since remained in India despite repeated requests from Bangladesh for her extradition.
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The two countries have also been at odds over Bangladesh’s allegations ​that Indian authorities ​have attempted â to push undocumented migrants across the border without following agreed repatriation procedures. Dhaka said border guards ​have foiled several recent “push-in†attempts and raised the issue ​during â last week’s talks between the Border Guard Bangladesh and India’s Border Security Force in New Delhi.
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While both sides agreed during the talks to â strengthen ​intelligence-sharing and coordinate border patrols, the migrant ​issue remains a source of friction between the neighbours.