Diplomatic Correspondent :
Dhaka and Delhi have talked on the key bilateral issues in a meeting between Bangladesh’s National Security Adviser Dr Khalilur Rahman and India’s National Security Adviser Ajit Doval in New Delhi on Wednesday.
In a tweet on X handle, Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi wrote: “They discussed work of CSC (Colombo Security Conclave) and key bilateral issues.”
The High Commission, however, did not reveal what exactly the two sides talked.
The encounter took place at a moment when ties between the two neighbours are noticeably strained. India had long enjoyed a close rapport with the former Awami League government, and the International Crimes Tribunal’s death sentence against Sheikh Hasina has added fresh tension.
Dhaka has already urged New Delhi to extradite her to face the verdict. Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus has said no one is above the law, and the government will send a formal request to Delhi for her return. While the High Commission did not confirm whether the extradition issue came up in the discussion, it is widely expected to surface in the broader bilateral talks.
Sources said that the meeting was not on the cards and Dr Rahman was expected to reach Delhi on Wednesday for attending the seventh NSA-level meeting of the Colombo Security Conclave (CSC), which is scheduled for Thursday at Hyderabad House.
But Khalilur Rahman quietly arrived a day earlier and sat with bilateral talks with Ajit Doval focusing on bilateral key issues.
This sudden shift in schedule caught the attention of diplomatic circles in both capitals. It signalled that something more than routine multilateral engagement might be unfolding.
According to a press note issued by the Bangladesh High Commission, “Bangladesh delegation to the Seventh NSA-level meeting of the Colombo Security Conclave (CSC), led by the National Security Adviser, Dr Khalilur Rahman, met with the National Security Adviser of India, Ajit Doval, and his team today in Delhi.”
“They discussed work of CSC and key bilateral issues. Dr Rahman invited Dovel to visit Bangladesh at his convenience,” it added.
No further details were shared, which only added to the intrigue surrounding the meeting.
What this really means is that the timing of the visit is just as important as the agenda. Country’s political landscape has been shaken by the ICT’s recent verdict sentencing Sheikh Hasina to death in a case linked to the July killings.
Since her removal from power, Hasina has taken refuge in Delhi. That single fact has placed India in the middle of a politically sensitive and legally complex situation.
The interim government in Dhaka has already signalled its intention to formally request New Delhi to return Hasina.
Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain confirmed that a letter to this effect is being prepared.
As a reaction, Ministry of External Affairs, India issued a statement stating that India as a close neighbour remains committed to the best interests of the people of Bangladesh, including in peace, democracy, inclusion and stability in Bangladesh.
Even if the official line focuses on CSC cooperation and regular bilateral issues, both sides know that Hasina’s presence in India and the implications of the tribunal’s verdict are unavoidable topics.
The verdict sentenced not only Sheikh Hasina to death but also former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, who is believed to be in India.
While the Indian government has offered shelter to Hasina, it has remained silent about figures like Asaduzzaman, making him an obvious candidate for initial extradition.
The ICT is preparing to pursue additional cases against senior Awami League leaders, many of whom are also thought to be residing in India.
The next move, especially India’s response to Dhaka’s request regarding Sheikh Hasina and Asaduzzaman, will indicate how both countries navigate a moment that could reshape the tone of their relationship.
