Bangladesh’s National Security Advisor, Khalilur Rahman, arrived in New Delhi on Tuesday evening, a day earlier than scheduled, to attend the seventh National Security Advisors’ Conference at the Colombo Security Conclave (CSC). He had originally been expected on Wednesday.
According to an Indian diplomatic source, Rahman landed at Indira Gandhi International Airport around 6:30 p.m. local time, where he was received by a senior official from India’s National Security Council Secretariat. Diplomatic sources in Dhaka and Delhi confirmed that the CSC meeting is set to take place Thursday at Delhi’s historic Hyderabad House, beginning in the morning and concluding after lunch. Rahman is scheduled to return to Dhaka later that afternoon.
The visit comes amid heightened regional attention following the international tribunal’s death sentence for former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who was convicted of crimes against humanity. Bangladesh’s caretaker government has formally requested India to repatriate Hasina, who is currently in Delhi. Foreign Affairs Adviser Md. Touhid Hossain said a letter invoking the extradition treaty has been sent to Indian authorities.
Rahman’s early arrival has drawn attention from diplomatic observers, who note the potential for discussions with India’s National Security Advisor, Ajit Doval, on bilateral security and contemporary regional issues. Doval personally invited Rahman to participate in the CSC conference last month.
Notably, high-level exchanges between Bangladesh and India have been limited over the past year. Before Rahman’s visit, the only other senior delegation was led by Energy Adviser Muhammad Fauzul Kabir Khan in February, attending India Energy Week. Rahman’s participation adds a significant chapter to the ongoing diplomatic dialogue between the two countries.