A late-night meeting involving US Ambassador to Bangladesh Brent Christensen, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, and former Chief Adviser Mohammad Yunus on May 26 has triggered intense speculation within Indian intelligence circles as well as Bangladesh’s political and diplomatic establishment, particularly after Yunus’s sudden and undisclosed visit to Paris.
According to sources within Bangladesh’s intelligence establishment, the meeting took place at the US Ambassador’s residence in Gulshan and was conducted under a high level of secrecy. Prime Minister Rahman reportedly arrived at around 10 pm without the usual security detail or official protocol, and the discussions were held without the presence of senior aides, highlighting the sensitive nature of the engagement.
Neither the Prime Minister’s Office nor the US Embassy in Dhaka has officially acknowledged the meeting. However, officials familiar with the matter indicated that the talks centred on Bangladesh’s ongoing political transition and its relations with key global stakeholders, including the United States, the European Union, and India.
The meeting gained further significance after Mohammad Yunus quietly departed for Paris on an early morning Turkish Airlines flight on May 27, accompanied by his close aide Lamiya Morshed. He is expected to return to Dhaka on June 3.
Government sources suggest that Yunus’s visit to Paris is linked to follow-up discussions stemming from the May 26 meeting. Reports indicate that during his stay, the former Chief Adviser has met several non-Bangladeshi officials.
Notably, Paris also holds political significance for Yunus, as it was from the French capital that he returned to Dhaka on August 8, 2024, to assume leadership of the interim regime, which remained in power for 18 months.
Political analysts believe the sequence of events points toward a coordinated diplomatic effort involving Bangladesh and its Western partners. “The timing of the visit suggests that it was not a last-minute decision but part of a broader strategy discussed during the meeting,” said a Dhaka-based observer.
Opposition leaders have demanded greater transparency regarding both the undisclosed meeting and Yunus’s overseas visit, arguing that issues of national importance should be communicated to the public.
Meanwhile, government officials have maintained that such confidential consultations could be linked to potential future roles for Yunus in state affairs.
As speculation continues to mount, authorities have remained tight-lipped, leaving the full implications of the meeting and Yunus’s Paris visit open to interpretation.
Follow us
