Bangladesh’s National Security Adviser Khalilur Rahman will arrive in New Delhi on November 19 for a two-day visit, at a time when former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has strikingly avoided blaming the United States for her August 2024 ouster, a notable shift in her recent media engagements.
Rahman is visiting India at the invitation of National Security Adviser Ajit Doval to attend the seventh meeting of the Colombo Security Conclave on November 19-20. He is also expected to hold a bilateral meeting with Doval, following their last interaction in Bangkok during the BIMSTEC summit on April 4. Dhaka has confirmed he will be accompanied by another senior official, though their name has not been disclosed.
Indian officials are expected to flag the rising frequency of high-level Pakistani military outreach to Bangladesh, including visits by Pakistan Navy Chief Admiral Naveed Ashraf and Joint Chiefs Chairman General Sahir Shamshad Mirza. Security agencies in Delhi view these engagements as sensitive, given the political uncertainty in Dhaka.
Since taking office, Rahman has travelled frequently to Doha and the United States, engaging with senior State Department officials. He played a central role in advancing the controversial “humanitarian corridor,” initially framed as an aid route for the Arakan Army but later repackaged as a repatriation channel for Rohingya refugees to Maungdaw and Buthidaung in Myanmar. The initiative triggered strong resistance from the Bangladesh Army. At one point, Rahman was reportedly denied entry into Dhaka Cantonment after objections from Army Chief General Waker-uz-Zaman. Security sources also claim he covertly encouraged elements of the Bangladesh Army and Border Guard Bangladesh to push ARSA and RSO fighters into Rakhine to counter the Arakan Army, further inflaming tensions.
Also read: Bangladesh lockdown: Protests erupt against Hasina trial
Rahman’s visit comes as Bangladesh navigates a complex transition under the Mohammad Yunus-led interim government. Although elections have been tentatively slated for February 2026, the Election Commission is yet to announce a formal schedule. The BNP has signalled willingness to contest, while parties such as Jamaat-e-Islami, the National Citizens Party and several smaller groups remain undecided. Policymakers in Dhaka are also discussing the possibility of holding a national referendum alongside the polls.
India, perceived in Dhaka as having been sidelined during what many believed was a US-backed ouster of Hasina amid mass student protests, has avoided overt efforts to reassert influence. Indian officials maintain they support an inclusive electoral process regardless of the timeline.
In a noticeable shift, Hasina has refrained from criticising Washington in her recent interviews to Indian and international media. Political observers view this as a signal that she may be preparing to re-engage the US and negotiate the Awami League’s political re-entry. Although the interim government has hinted that the Awami League may be barred from contesting the 2026 polls, BNP leaders have recently avoided taking a hardline stance on the party’s participation.
Follow us
