Till at least June 2024 – five months before he was appointed High Representative to Bangladesh’s Chief Advisor on Rohingya Issues and ten months before he was chosen as the country’s National Security Adviser (NSA) – Khalilur Rahman operated a Facebook profile under the assumed name of ‘Roger Rahman’, investigations by Northeast News have revealed.
Reacting to BNP leader Salahuddin Ahmed’s claim on May 17 that he was a US citizen and therefore could not hold the sensitive post of NSA, Khalilur Rahman said on May 18: “I remain prepared to exercise my rights as a Bangladeshi citizen to the fullest extent.”
Pointing out that the burden of proof of allegation rested on the individual (Ahmed) who made it, Khalilur Rahman dared the BNP leader that “it (his US citizenship) would have to be proven before a court of law”.
Now, extensive investigations by Northeast News have revealed that his association with the US has been since at least 1998, when he was still in government service. For instance, in October 1998, Khalilur Rahman lived (or lives) at 29, Bretton Rd, Scarsdale NY 10583 in Westchester County. Northeast News is also in possession of his mobile/WhatsApp number, which is not being revealed for reasons of public safety and security.
Further inquiries showed that besides the Scarsdale address, there are at least ten other addresses that Khalilur Rahman was associated within the US. These range from houses he lived in not only New York state but also in Massachusetts and Connecticut.
The addresses that Khalilur Rahman has been traced to are: 1, Quaker Ln, Greenwich CT 06831, Fairfield County, 182, Weaver St, Greenwich CT 06831, 17, Clyde Rd, Watertown MA 02472, Middlesex County (Massachusetts), 1. Leighton St, Unity 1307, Cambridge MA 02141, Middlesex County, and 11, Scenic Ln, Yonkers NY 10710, Westchester County among others.
US records show that Khalilur Rahman’s spouse is Nurun Nahar Rahman. He also has a sister Celine DeMatteo (married to a white American), who is a neurologist based in Manhasset, New York. Now, she also goes by the name of Celine Rahman-DeMatteo. It is likely that Celine Rahman moved to the US after Khalilur settled down in that country.
The records list 13 other relatives of Khalilur Rahman who live in and around Scarsdale, New York. Among these are his daughters, one being Lamiya Naureen.
A “Background Report” for “Khalilur Rahman in Scarsdale, NY (New York)”, shows that “Khalilur Rahman is 71 years…Currently, Khalilur Rahman lives at the address 29, Bretton Rd, Scarsdale NY 10583. Khalilur has lived at this Scarsdale, NY address for about 26 years, after moving in around October of 1998. Khalilur previously lived at 1, Quaker Ln, Greenwich, CT 06831 for 4 years, starting in January of 2020. Going further back, starting in August of 2017, Khalilur lived at 36 Alexandria Dr, Oxon Hill MD 20745 for 4 years”.
Even more revealing is the Facebook account of ‘Roger Rahman’. While it is not clear why Khalilur Rahman assumed the fictitious name, Roger, comments left behind by numerous friends and relatives make it abundantly clear that, one, Khalilur Rahman is the same person as ‘Roger Rahman’, and two, he has been living in the US for over 20 years.
A close examination of the comments, made under different profile and cover photographs on FB, show, for instance, that ‘Roger Rahman’ and his wife (Numan, who is known by the nickname Shathi) is Khalilur Rahman. In a comment under his current profile photograph (featuring him and his wife), one Yasmin Lashker Khan wrote four years ago, “Roger Rahman what a beautiful photo. Khalil bhai is beaming with happiness standing besides the beautiful Eid er chaad. Love you guys.”
In another comment three years ago, Deena Rahman wrote, “Very nice shati apa (sister) and Khalil bhai.”
In comments made under a picture posted on September 22, 2019, when Khalilur Rahman was presumably in Geneva, one Ishraq C Pappu wrote, “Our favourite Apa and handsome Shawpon Bhai, good to see your beautiful picture. (Btw, Right now we r at your Sohor Geneva).
Replying to this comment, Roger Rahman wrote (in Bengali), “Glad to learn that you are now in Geneva. I lived there for a long a time. We have lovely memories of Geneva…” In another comment, a lady by the name of Nadira Rahman wrote, “Beautiful Shathi and Khalil!”.
In another reply to a comment by a person called Mohammad Feroze, ‘Roger Rahman’ wrote five years ago, “…We will reach Dhaka on the 17’ of December Insha Allah”.
In comments made under another picture posted on September 1, 2018, ‘Roger Rahman’ wrote to Bina Ahmad, saying, “…We are now in Toronto visiting…” It seems that ‘Roger Rahman’ or Khalilur Rahman lived in New York at that time. This is revealed in a comment by the same Bina Ahmad who said, “Heard Kutu Bhai and his family are coming to NY soon”. Responding to this, ‘Roger Rahman’ wrote, “Yes, early this month”.
Under the same picture, Deena Rahman wrote seven years ago, “Very nice my Shati apa and Khalil Bhai. Looking great both of you”.
On December 10, 2011, ‘Roger Rahman’ posted on his Facebook timeline that he “is going to Boston tomorrow to visit Celine Rahman and Joseph DeMatteo 😊”.
Exactly a year before this post, ‘Roger Rahman’ wrote on his FB timeline (on November 10, 2010), “Roger in Paris for his birthday weekend”. Pictures posted by him by a fountain show ‘Roger Rahman’, wearing an overcoat, holding his pet dog close to his chest.
On February 15, 2010, ‘Roger Rahman’ posted on his FB timeline that he “is heading back to Geneva tomorrow”. He was in New York on February 6, 2010.
