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Dr. Zahed Ur Rahman, an adviser on policy and strategy affairs to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, is en route home after being stopped at Delhi airport by Indian immigration authorities. The incident occurred last evening as his name was flagged during a security check.

Sources cited by Indian news portal CNN-News18 reported that Zahed was "briefly stopped" because his name appeared on a security-related watchlist. Immigration officials detained him for verification during routine checks. A source in New Delhi told The Daily Star, "After intervention, the immigration authorities allowed his entry, but the adviser decided to return home."

Bangladesh High Commissioner Riaz Hamidullah personally went to Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport on Sunday afternoon to receive him. Diplomatic sources indicated that Zahed was traveling to India to attend the 28th Meeting of the Committee of Senior Officials (CSO) of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), hosted by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs on June 15 and 16.

Upon arrival, Zahed was questioned by Indian immigration authorities and held for approximately two and a half hours without a specific reason being provided, according to Prothom Alo. Sources noted that the prime minister's adviser was traveling with a green passport with a Saarc sticker, not a diplomatic one. Despite the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi sending a diplomatic note verbale to the Indian Ministry of External Affairs informing them of Zahed's visit, the situation unfolded as described. As there were no direct return flights from Delhi to Dhaka that night, Zahed Ur Rahman departed for Colombo and was scheduled to arrive back in Dhaka this afternoon.

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After intervention, the immigration authorities allowed his entry, but the adviser decided to return home.