Dhaka Summons Indian Deputy High Commissioner

The Government of Bangladesh has formally summoned the Acting Indian High Commissioner (Deputy High Commissioner) to Dhaka to register a vehement protest following an unexpected diplomatic incident at New Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport involving a high-ranking Bangladeshi state official.

The Indian Deputy High Commissioner was urgently called to the South Asia Wing of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday afternoon. Highly placed sources within the ministry confirmed the development, characterizing the summons as a direct diplomatic response to the treatment of Dr. Zahed Ur Rahman, the Prime Minister’s Advisor on Policy, Strategy, Information, and Broadcasting.

A Serious Breach of Diplomatic Protocol

According to authoritative diplomatic sources, Dr. Zahed Ur Rahman holds the rank of a Minister of State. Despite the Indian government being formally notified well in advance of his itinerary, the Advisor was reportedly detained by immigration authorities at the New Delhi airport for approximately two and a half hours.

During the bilateral meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today, Dhaka conveyed its deep concern and lodged a formal protest against what it described as discourteous and unseemly behavior toward a state dignitary. The ministry has officially demanded an immediate and comprehensive explanation from New Delhi to identify the systemic lapses and specific personnel responsibilities that led to this unwarranted bottleneck.

The Canceled IORA Summit Delegation

The Advisor was scheduled to lead the official Bangladeshi delegation at a two-day international convention of senior officials for the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) in New Delhi. The Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi had meticulously dispatched an official diplomatic note (note verbale) to the Indian Ministry of External Affairs last Friday, detailing the state official’s arrival and required logistical arrangements.

However, upon his arrival in New Delhi on Sunday evening, Indian immigration authorities flagged his passport, citing a administrative security watchlist contradiction. Although intervention from higher diplomatic channels eventually cleared him for entry after a 150-minute delay, Dr. Zahed Ur Rahman chose to decline entry into Indian territory to uphold state dignity and national prestige. He returned to Dhaka via Colombo today at approximately 11:30 AM.