Delhi Airport Denies Entry to Bangladeshi PM’s Advisor Zahid Rahman Despite Prior Clearance
New Delhi / Dhaka, June 15, 2026 — In a significant diplomatic incident, Zahid Rahman, Advisor to Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Tariq Rahman, was initially barred from entering India at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport on Monday.According to Bangladeshi media reports, Rahman was subjected to intensive questioning for approximately two and a half hours by Indian…
New Delhi / Dhaka, June 15, 2026 — In a significant diplomatic incident, Zahid Rahman, Advisor to Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Tariq Rahman, was initially barred from entering India at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport on Monday.
According to Bangladeshi media reports, Rahman was subjected to intensive questioning for approximately two and a half hours by Indian immigration officials. The incident occurred despite prior diplomatic notification and clearance for his visit to attend a meeting of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA).
Bangladesh expressed deep concern over the development. A Bangladeshi official described the episode as “worrying,” stating that entry was denied even though all necessary pre-approvals had been obtained.
Indian authorities later claimed that following intervention by senior officials, permission to enter was eventually granted. However, according to Bangladeshi sources, Rahman chose not to proceed with his visit and instead decided to return home. He departed for Dhaka via Colombo, Sri Lanka.
The development has raised questions about coordination between the two neighboring countries. This is the latest episode highlighting occasional strains in India-Bangladesh diplomatic and official travel relations.
No immediate official statement has been issued by India’s Ministry of External Affairs on the matter.
