Dr Zahed-ur-Rahman, policy, strategy and information affairs adviser to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, arrived at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi to lead the Bangladesh delegation at an Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) meeting on the evening of 15 June 2026. After apparently being on a security watch list, he was detained by immigration for over two hours.
One detail everyone noticed was that the adviser was travelling on a regular Bangladeshi passport with a SAARC visa and did not have a diplomatic passport. Sources familiar with the matter said they did not believe the issue was connected to the passport he was carrying, as Indian authorities were said to be aware of his official status and planned participation. But the incident raised an important question that many Bangladeshis are asking now: what is the difference between a green passport and a diplomatic passport, and why does it matter?
Bangladesh issues three types of passports
Most Bangladeshis know nothing beyond the green booklet. Bangladesh has actually three different kinds of passports. The ordinary passport is green in colour and is a normal passport issued to general citizens for the purpose of travel for vacation, study or business. The official passport is blue in colour and is issued to government employees and officials representing the government for official purposes. The diplomatic passport is red and is issued to diplomats and high-ranking government officials. The diplomatic passport offers the highest visa-free entry and consular benefits.
So when you go to the Department of Immigration and Passports to get a passport, whether at a regional office or online, you are almost certainly getting the green ordinary passport.
What Each Passport Can Do For You?
Here is a basic breakdown of the travel rights that differ between the 3 types of passports:
Green Ordinary Passport (for general citizens):
- As of 2026, Bangladeshi citizens had visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 36 countries and territories, ranking the Bangladeshi passport 95th in the world in terms of travel freedom according to the Henley Passport Index.
- Popular destinations like India, the UK, the US and most of Europe require advance visa applications
- SAARC visa stickers approved for travel across South Asia under certain conditions
Blue Official Passport (for government employees on official duties):
- Often eases visa requirements for holders in some countries, making it easier to travel for official missions and diplomatic work.
- Not available for ordinary citizens
- Red diplomatic passport (for diplomats and senior officials)
- The Bangladeshi diplomatic passport has a visa-free score of 69 countries and territories.
- The red Bangladeshi passport provides visa-free access to more countries than the normal green passport.
- Covers diplomatic immunity protections at foreign border crossings and airports
Why did the adviser carry a green passport?
This is where the Delhi incident gets revealing. Even in Bangladesh, senior government officials do not always travel on diplomatic passports, especially where their official status is relatively new, or their travel has been arranged at short notice. Zahed-ur-Rahman was travelling on a normal passport with a SAARC visa sticker.
SAARC Visa is a special sticker that is issued under the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation framework, which is a multi-entry visa. It helps eligible professionals and officials to travel to SAARC member countries, including India. But it is not a diplomatic passport and does not have the same legal protections at immigration counters.
What does this mean for regular Bangladeshis travelling to India?
If you are a regular citizen of Bangladesh and you want to visit India, here are the things you need to know:
You need to get an Indian visa beforehand. There is no “on arrival visa” facility for Bangladeshi green passport holders coming to India.
Apply through the Indian Visa Application Centre (IVAC), which has offices in Dhaka, Chittagong, Rajshahi, Sylhet and Khulna.
You will need to have a valid green passport with at least 6 months’ validity.
Carry proof of your purpose of visit, such as hotel bookings, invitation letters, or medical documents if you are visiting for treatment.
A SAARC visa is no guarantee of entry. Of course, border and immigration authorities can still check your credentials.
A Quick Checklist on How to Keep Your Green Passport Travel-Ready
Here’s a checklist for any international trip before you leave:
- If your passport will expire within 6 months of the date of your travel, renew it. Apply through the Department of Immigration and Passports or authorised Smart Card centres.
- Get the right visa in good time, at least four to six weeks before you go.
- Your name is the same in all the documents, like your National ID, passport and any visa application. Mismatches may cause delays or denial of entry.
- Print all confirmation documents, i.e. visa approval and hotel booking. Don’t depend on digital copies at the border.
- Rules are often changing; check to see if your destination country requires any extra documents for green passport holders
The Bigger Picture: Bangladesh and Passport Power
The Delhi airport episode is a reminder that your passport type is about more than just which colour booklet sits in your bag. It determines how you are treated at immigration counters across the world. With a green Bangladeshi passport, you can travel to about 40 countries without a visa. Most of them are faraway islands in the Pacific or the Caribbean. That reality impacts millions of everyday Bangladeshis trying to travel for work, education or medical care.
The government has been striving to enhance the ranking of passports and visa access for Bangladeshi citizens through bilateral agreements and diplomatic efforts. Until such improvements are made, the best protection any ordinary green passport holder has is to know the rules and prepare carefully before travel.
Takeaway
If you are a government official or a common citizen, your rights depend on the type of passport you carry at every immigration counter of the world. Know your passport, get your papers in order and don’t assume that your official status will substitute for proper travel papers.
Summary:
When PM Adviser Zahed-ur-Rahman was stopped at Delhi airport while travelling on a green ordinary passport, it sparked a national conversation. Here is what every Bangladeshi should know about passport types and travel rights.
