National Security Adviser Khalilur Rahman is scheduled to lead the country’s delegation to the 7th NSA-level meeting of the Colombo Security Conclave in New Delhi on 19-20 November.
If he travels at the invitation of his Indian counterpart, Ajit Doval, Rahman will become the highest-ranking Bangladeshi official to visit India since the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government assumed office in August last year following the ouster of Sheikh Hasina.
Though the visit is officially to attend a regional forum, it has sparked considerable attention among observers, analysts, diplomats, and the public. Engagements between Bangladesh and India often provoke intense speculation, and this visit is no exception.
Questions abound about what might transpire during Rahman’s bilateral interactions with Doval on the sidelines of the conclave. Some speculate that the often-cool relations since the interim government took over could see a thaw, while others suggest India might convey firm messages to Bangladesh during the visit.
Adding to the curiosity, NSA Rahman met with Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma on the evening of the announcement day. While private invitations are not unusual, protocol generally discourages minister-level advisers from visiting an envoy’s residence for official purposes.
The optics of such meetings feed into long-standing perceptions of India’s dominant posture in the bilateral relationship. Similarly, the summoning of India’s deputy high commissioner by Bangladesh’s Foreign Ministry over Hasina’s media engagements in Delhi, rather than the high commissioner, also raised eyebrows and reinforced narratives of Indian patronage.
Historically, Bangladesh has shown considerable generosity in dealing with India. Indian presidents and prime ministers visiting Dhaka are typically welcomed by their Bangladeshi counterparts at the highest levels. By contrast, Bangladeshi leaders often receive less elaborate attention when visiting India.
And, access of Bangladeshi ministers and bureaucrats to Indian top leadership is limited. Cases such as an Indian foreign secretary holding one-on-one meetings with the Bangladeshi prime minister are rare and unthinkable in reverse.
This asymmetry has long fed perceptions that the relationship is uneven, with India enjoying a privileged position and Bangladesh expected to accommodate it.
Senior Bangladeshi diplomats acknowledge that, since independence, India has often assumed the upper hand in bilateral dealings. Such dynamics, they say, have persisted for decades, making it difficult to reverse patterns of influence and perception.
However, the current interim government seeks to recalibrate the relationship on equal footing, a move some in India reportedly resist. For Bangladesh, this approach is about asserting its sovereignty, protecting national interests, and fostering a partnership built on mutual respect rather than hierarchy.
An equal-footing relationship offers tangible benefits for both countries. Economically, balanced ties could unlock new opportunities in trade, energy, and infrastructure. Bangladesh’s expanding industrial base and workforce complement India’s markets and investment capacity.
Joint ventures in transport, digital technology, and energy can boost competitiveness and regional integration. Similarly, security cooperation is more effective when both parties engage as equals. Coordinated intelligence sharing, joint border management, and counterterrorism initiatives are more credible when neither side dominates the other.
Culturally and socially, parity in the relationship strengthens people-to-people connections. Academic exchanges, tourism, and cultural collaboration thrive when mutual respect underpins state-level interactions.
Politically, framing the relationship on equal terms signals maturity: Bangladesh can assert its interests confidently, while India demonstrates constructive leadership and regional responsibility. Mutual respect also enhances the ability of both nations to engage effectively in multilateral forums such as regional climate diplomacy.
For this vision to materialise, India must adjust its long-standing “big-brother” attitude. Bangladesh cannot be expected to maintain a robust partnership if it is treated as subordinate or patronised.
Reciprocity in attention, access, and respect is central. When both sides address each other’s concerns, a win-win situation emerges: India gains a reliable, stable neighbour, while Bangladesh secures recognition and influence commensurate with its regional importance. Such a recalibration could also improve public perceptions in Bangladesh, where current views of India are often unfavourable.
Ultimately, the proposed equal-footing approach is not merely symbolic; it is practical and strategic. It promises stronger economic ties, more credible security cooperation, and deeper cultural engagement.
For decades, India has held a dominant position, but mutual respect and parity could create a sustainable framework for collaboration. In an evolving South Asia, a relationship based on equal footing will benefit both Bangladesh and India, strengthening regional stability and prosperity while setting a precedent for fair and balanced bilateral diplomacy.National Security Adviser Khalilur Rahman is scheduled to lead the country’s delegation to the 7th NSA-level meeting of the Colombo Security Conclave in New Delhi on 19-20 November.
If he travels at the invitation of his Indian counterpart, Ajit Doval, Rahman will become the highest-ranking Bangladeshi official to visit India since the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government assumed office in August last year following the ouster of Sheikh Hasina.
Though the visit is officially to attend a regional forum, it has sparked considerable attention among observers, analysts, diplomats, and the public. Engagements between Bangladesh and India often provoke intense speculation, and this visit is no exception.
Questions abound about what might transpire during Rahman’s bilateral interactions with Doval on the sidelines of the conclave. Some speculate that the often-cool relations since the interim government took over could see a thaw, while others suggest India might convey firm messages to Bangladesh during the visit.
Adding to the curiosity, NSA Rahman met with Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma on the evening of the announcement day. While private invitations are not unusual, protocol generally discourages minister-level advisers from visiting an envoy’s residence for official purposes.
The optics of such meetings feed into long-standing perceptions of India’s dominant posture in the bilateral relationship. Similarly, the summoning of India’s deputy high commissioner by Bangladesh’s Foreign Ministry over Hasina’s media engagements in Delhi, rather than the high commissioner, also raised eyebrows and reinforced narratives of Indian patronage.
Historically, Bangladesh has shown considerable generosity in dealing with India. Indian presidents and prime ministers visiting Dhaka are typically welcomed by their Bangladeshi counterparts at the highest levels. By contrast, Bangladeshi leaders often receive less elaborate attention when visiting India.
And, access of Bangladeshi ministers and bureaucrats to Indian top leadership is limited. Cases such as an Indian foreign secretary holding one-on-one meetings with the Bangladeshi prime minister are rare and unthinkable in reverse.
This asymmetry has long fed perceptions that the relationship is uneven, with India enjoying a privileged position and Bangladesh expected to accommodate it.
Senior Bangladeshi diplomats acknowledge that, since independence, India has often assumed the upper hand in bilateral dealings. Such dynamics, they say, have persisted for decades, making it difficult to reverse patterns of influence and perception.
However, the current interim government seeks to recalibrate the relationship on equal footing, a move some in India reportedly resist. For Bangladesh, this approach is about asserting its sovereignty, protecting national interests, and fostering a partnership built on mutual respect rather than hierarchy.
An equal-footing relationship offers tangible benefits for both countries. Economically, balanced ties could unlock new opportunities in trade, energy, and infrastructure. Bangladesh’s expanding industrial base and workforce complement India’s markets and investment capacity.
Joint ventures in transport, digital technology, and energy can boost competitiveness and regional integration. Similarly, security cooperation is more effective when both parties engage as equals. Coordinated intelligence sharing, joint border management, and counterterrorism initiatives are more credible when neither side dominates the other.
Culturally and socially, parity in the relationship strengthens people-to-people connections. Academic exchanges, tourism, and cultural collaboration thrive when mutual respect underpins state-level interactions.
Politically, framing the relationship on equal terms signals maturity: Bangladesh can assert its interests confidently, while India demonstrates constructive leadership and regional responsibility. Mutual respect also enhances the ability of both nations to engage effectively in multilateral forums such as regional climate diplomacy.
For this vision to materialise, India must adjust its long-standing “big-brother” attitude. Bangladesh cannot be expected to maintain a robust partnership if it is treated as subordinate or patronised.
Reciprocity in attention, access, and respect is central. When both sides address each other’s concerns, a win-win situation emerges: India gains a reliable, stable neighbour, while Bangladesh secures recognition and influence commensurate with its regional importance. Such a recalibration could also improve public perceptions in Bangladesh, where current views of India are often unfavourable.
Ultimately, the proposed equal-footing approach is not merely symbolic; it is practical and strategic. It promises stronger economic ties, more credible security cooperation, and deeper cultural engagement.
For decades, India has held a dominant position, but mutual respect and parity could create a sustainable framework for collaboration. In an evolving South Asia, a relationship based on equal footing will benefit both Bangladesh and India, strengthening regional stability and prosperity while setting a precedent for fair and balanced bilateral diplomacy.
