India deported Bangladeshi chess player; Sylheti Legend Rani Hamid 'Disturbed'

Veteran Bangladeshi chess player Sayeda Jasimunnessa Khatun, widely known as Rani Hamid, arrived in India earlier this month to take part in the 21st Delhi International Open Grandmasters Chess Tournament, held from June 7 to 14. However, what began as a promising journey took an unsettling turn when her travel partner, Ashiya Sultana, was denied entry upon arrival at New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport.

Sultana, 37, was reportedly on a blacklist issued by India’s Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) due to her participation in a previous chess event in Kolkata while on a medical visa. Consequently, she was detained overnight at the airport’s immigration center, denied access to her luggage, and deported back to Bangladesh the next day. The incident left Hamid, 80, deeply disturbed and emotionally affected.

“I am very sad,” Hamid told TimesofIndia.com during the ongoing tournament. “She had to sit all night without her luggage. The next day, she had to purchase a return ticket at double the price. I can’t focus on the game—I am very upset.”

Hamid, who has long preferred to travel with company due to her age, is now participating alone. Her performance has been impacted, with just one win and one draw out of six rounds, all against lower-rated opponents. “I never travel alone. She was there to accompany me. Now I’m left on my own,” she said.

Hamid expressed frustration over the lack of communication between Indian and Bangladeshi authorities, noting that Sultana had all valid documents and was unaware that her previous participation on a medical visa constituted a violation. “If she had known earlier, she wouldn’t have come. The authorities should have informed the Bangladesh Chess Federation,” she remarked.

She added that she had pleaded with immigration officials for a compassionate resolution: “I told them—impose a fine if necessary, but please let her stay and play for just seven days. She’s not a criminal. Her only ‘offence’ was playing chess.”

Despite the emotional toll, Hamid acknowledged the warm hospitality and support from the Delhi Chess Association (DCA), especially the comfortable arrangements at The Tivoli resort in Chhatarpur, Delhi, where participants are housed near the tournament venue. “It’s very comfortable here. That’s the only reason I’m able to play. I’m grateful to the organisers for their warmth and invitation,” she added.

DCA president Bharat Singh Chauhan described the situation as an unfortunate but not uncommon issue in large-scale events.

“Visa complications are frequent. In this case, she was blacklisted likely due to playing in a tournament while on a medical visa, possibly following a complaint. These things happen during international events,” he explained.

Rani Hamid—born on July 14, 1944—is from Sylhet, Bangladesh. She was born and raised there, attending local schools before rising to national and international prominence in the chess world.

Source: Times of India