Dhaka, 29 May 2025 — Bangladesh’s National Security Adviser (NSA) Dr. Khalilur Rahman held a high-level meeting with a visiting U.S. congressional delegation on 28 May at a hotel in Dhaka’s diplomatic zone of Gulshan. The meeting came just a day after Dr. Rahman’s return from Doha.
The U.S. delegation was led by Jennifer Nicole Pite, Legislative Director and Chief Counsel to Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut. Dr. Rahman, a resident of Greenwich, Connecticut himself, discussed regional humanitarian and security issues with the eight-member team, which included one senator, one congressman, a representative of a Republican congressman from Florida, and officials from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) based in Washington, D.C. and Dhaka.
A key topic of the discussion was the repatriation of Rohingya refugees from Bangladesh to Myanmar’s Rakhine State. However, Dr. Rahman made no public remarks regarding his previously proposed “humanitarian corridor” between the two countries — a controversial initiative that had drawn sharp backlash from political parties in Bangladesh, particularly the opposition BNP.
The proposal, which suggested returning Rohingyas followed by aid delivery into Rakhine, was met with fierce criticism. It has reportedly been temporarily shelved after strong opposition from Bangladesh’s military leadership. Army Chief General Waker-uz-Zaman vehemently rejected the idea in a major public address, declaring, “There will be no blood-stained corridor.” The Bangladesh Army later reinforced its position in a media briefing, stating it would firmly oppose any plan that compromises the country’s sovereignty.
Sources within Dhaka suggest the corridor issue has sparked tension between the National Security Adviser and the top brass of the armed forces. Reports indicate that military officers have been instructed to avoid direct meetings or communication with Dr. Rahman, signaling a deepening rift between civilian and military leadership on the Rohingya issue.
Analysts warn that the divide could hinder coordinated policymaking at a critical time, as Bangladesh continues to face mounting challenges in resolving the prolonged Rohingya refugee crisis.