In a video interview to a Paris-based Bangladeshi rabble-rouser some eight months ago, the country’s the then National Security Adviser (NSA) Khalilur Rahman had strongly criticised India for its long support to the Awami League regime headed by Sheikh Hasina.
In the 30-minute interview, which began with mutually obsequious exchange of pleasantries, Khalilur Rahman, who has now managed to squirm his way to position himself as Bangladesh’s foreign minister under a BNP-led government headed by Tarique Rahman, had said that the downfall of the Sheikh Hasina regime was a “huge setback for India’s foreign relations in general and its ties with India in particular”.
Khalilur Rahman, who is no more or no less than a US agent of influence, raised and run by American intelligence to do Washington’s bidding – as NSA in the Mohammad Yunus-led interim regime and now as foreign minister in the Tarique Rahman-led government – had also said that “there will be no business usual with India” especially after New Delhi’s “policy failure” involving Sheikh Hasina.
Pointing out that “it would be tough for India to ensure the security and stability of its Seven Sisters (northeastern states) without Bangladesh”, Khalilur Rahman said in the interview that New Delhi will pursue a “holding operation” insofar as Dhaka under the Yunus regime was concerned.
Khalilur Rahman, whose job now would be to do the US’ bidding in Bangladesh – recall that he was instrumental in ensuring the operationalisation of a non-disclosure agreement in Washington-Dhaka’s commercial dealings and its inexplicable decision to purchase 25 Boeing aircraft weeks before the Yunus regime wound up – will also be working with the Indian establishment to achieve American geopolitical objectives.
In the interview with the Paris-based agent provocateur, Khalilur Rahman, who managed to get the foreign minister’s job by fawning over and then ingratiating before Tarique Rahman in a private meeting when Yunus travelled to London in July 2025, reminded viewers of a quip by an Awami League leader who, during the January 7, 2024, ‘dummy election’ had said that he was “an Awami League as well as Indian candidate”.
Whose candidate is Khalilur Rahman today? The US’ or India’s or of both?
The most enduring picture of Khalilur Rahman we are all familiar with was his frequent shadowy exits out of Bangladesh to destinations such as Qatar and the US where he obviously met clandestinely with his American handlers and case officers. He was living it up – finding the jet-set job of NSA thrilling – while in reality ensuring that Bangladesh’s geopolitical and geoeconomic interests were compromised at the altar of the United States.
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He almost served up Bangladesh’s sovereignty when he proposed a “humanitarian corridor” to Myanmar’s Rakhine State, ostensibly to help the Arakan Army and the people of the region. But the timely and quick intervention of Army chief General Waker-uz-Zaman thwarted this dangerous move.
Gen Zaman went a step further: he issued orders that Khalilur Rahman would not enter Dhaka Cantonment. Overnight, the Bangladeshi NSA became a pariah for the powerful Army.
That order still stands. Khalilur Rahman will certainly try to either tame or neutralise the Army chief or in the very least continue needling him. We can only assume that Gen Zaman, no less willy a player, has his defences up to take on any form of deceit or treachery.
As things stand today, Khalilur Rahman’s purported patriotism – recall that he has a permanent home in Ohio in the US – will be on trial as he balances between Washington and New Delhi insofar as Bangladesh is concerned.
