New Delhi: In the highest-level security dialogue since the political upheaval in Dhaka, Bangladesh’s National Security Adviser Dr Khalilur Rahman held crucial talks with his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval here on Wednesday, discussing the workings of the Colombo Security Conclave and a range of pressing bilateral matters.
Dr Rahman, who led Bangladesh’s delegation to the Seventh NSA-level Meeting of the Colombo Security Conclave, extended a formal invitation to Doval to visit Dhaka soon – a gesture aimed at rebuilding bridges amid frosty ties.
The closed-door meeting comes against the backdrop of strained relations following the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August and her subsequent asylum in India. Dhaka has repeatedly sought Hasina’s extradition after a special tribunal sentenced her to death in absentia. This demand remains a major irritant.
Sources described the discussion as “frank and constructive”, covering maritime security cooperation under the CSC framework, alongside traditional issues like border management and counter-terrorism. With Muhammad Yunus steering Bangladesh’s interim government, this engagement signals both sides’ intent to keep security channels open despite political turbulence.
As regional dynamics shift in the Bay of Bengal, the perplexing Rahman-Doval parley underscores the enduring strategic importance of India-Bangladesh ties.