NEW DELHI — Indian officials in New Delhi denied entry to Zahed Ur Rahman, an adviser to Bangladeshi Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, at the airport. Rahman was traveling to Delhi for a meeting of senior officials of the Indian Ocean Rim Association when immigration authorities denied him entry.

The Bangladeshi government formally protested the incident by summoning the Indian Deputy High Commissioner. Rahman stated that he waited at the airport for nearly two and a half hours before receiving clearance for entry, which he attributed to intervention from higher authorities in Delhi. Rahman decided to return to Dhaka as a protest against the incident.

Speaking at a press conference in Dhaka, Rahman stated he was not mistreated or harassed by Indian authorities. He described the situation at the airport as an "unwanted situation." Rahman further stated his decision to return to Dhaka was to convey a message that the current government operates under a mandate from the people.

This event marks the second time the Bangladesh foreign ministry has called in the Indian mission in Dhaka since Tarique Rahman's government took office in February 2026. Last month, the Bangladeshi government summoned the acting Indian high commissioner following remarks by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma regarding India's policy on infiltrators.

According to Indian news sources, the incident occurred due to an administrative error that placed Rahman's name on an immigration watchlist. Indian sources also claimed Rahman was traveling on a personal passport with a SAARC visa sticker instead of a diplomatic passport. In April 2026, India and Bangladesh vowed to reset bilateral ties, and on April 8, 2026, India's foreign minister S Jaishankar and Bangladesh's foreign minister Khalilur Rahman met in New Delhi.