Published: 12:11 AM, 17 June 2026
Returned from India as an instant protest: Adviser Zahed
Prime Minister's Adviser on Policy and Strategy Affairs Dr Zahed Ur Rahman on Tuesday said he decided to return home from Delhi airport as an immediate protest. "I did not go there as an individual; I went as a representative of the government. Therefore, what happened to me there required an immediate protest. That is why I decided to return," he told reporters at a press conference at the Press Information Department (PID) conference room at the Secretariat, reports UNB.
He said that after a certain point, the Indian authorities made repeated efforts to persuade him to enter the country and continue with his scheduled engagements.
"As the Prime Minister's adviser, I felt that there should be a clear signature or position from the state or the government regarding the incident," he added.
The Adviser said he does not believe the incident will have any impact on future Dhaka-Delhi engagement.
The adviser also appreciated the efforts of Bangladesh High Commissioner to India, M. Riaz Hamidullah, who, according to him, did his utmost to resolve the matter.
He said he remains willing to visit India in the future, provided there is a proper invitation in place.
"I never intended for this to create any kind of reciprocal negative situation. I felt that a message needed to be conveyed to everyone in this country and outside the country, which is that this is not the Sheikh Hasina government. This is a government with a popular mandate."
The adviser said a government with a popular mandate must operate both inside and outside the country with that in mind. "At the same time, others must also take that into cognizance."
Bangladesh has a clear policy in its future engagements not only with India but with any other country, he said. "We do not want any kind of very bad situation with any country, let alone hostility."
He further dismissed claims that the issue was related to holding a diplomatic passport, saying such a document is optional and not mandatory for foreign travel.
Dr Zahed also said Bangladesh continues to maintain important cooperation with India on water-sharing and regional issues, including the Ganges Water Treaty, the Teesta agreement, and other transboundary river discussions.
Dr Zahed returned home on Monday after he was stopped at Delhi airport by the Indian immigration authorities on Sunday evening after his name was reportedly flagged during a security check.
The Adviser was scheduled to attend the 28th meeting of the Committee of Senior Officials (CSO) of Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA). India is hosting the meeting (June 15-16) in New Delhi.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday summoned Indian Deputy High Commissioner and Charge d' Affaires to Bangladesh Pawan Badhe and conveyed Dhaka's displeasure to New Delhi regarding the incident involving PM's Adviser Dr Zahed Ur Rahman at Delhi airport.
Earlier, Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman described the incident as "unexpected and unfortunate" and said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is taking appropriate steps regarding the matter.
"It is an unexpected incident, unfortunate too," he said while briefly talking to reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
While responding to a question, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam said the incident is certainly not 'welcoming', and they do not expect this kind of incident to happen.
"Our ministry is looking into this and communicating with India, and will certainly take action, if required, once the full details of the incident are known," she said.
