National Security Advisor Khalilur Rahman Discusses Rohingya Crisis with U.S. Delegation

Staff Correspondent

Dhaka, May 29, 2025: Bangladesh’s National Security Advisor (NSA), Dr. Khalilur Rahman, met with a U.S. Congressional delegation on May 28 at a hotel in Dhaka’s Gulshan area. The delegation was led by Jennifer Nicole Pyatt, Legislative Director and Chief Counsel to Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy. Notably, Dr. Rahman himself is a resident of Greenwich, Connecticut. The meeting took place a day after his return from Doha.

The eight-member U.S. delegation included senators and congressmen from both the Democratic and Republican parties, a representative of a Republican congressman from Florida, and officials from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Washington, D.C., and Dhaka.

Discussions focused on the repatriation of Rohingya refugees to Myanmar’s Rakhine State. However, Dr. Rahman refrained from publicly commenting on the contentious “humanitarian corridor” proposal. This proposal, initially presented by Dr. Rahman, suggested repatriation followed by aid delivery to Rakhine State but faced strong criticism from Bangladesh’s political parties, particularly the BNP, which has firmly opposed it.

Dr. Rahman has temporarily withdrawn the proposal, largely due to significant opposition from Bangladesh’s military chiefs. General Wakar-uz-Zaman, the Chief of Army Staff, strongly criticized the plan, stating at a major assembly, “There will be no bloody corridor.” In a subsequent briefing to Dhaka journalists, the military reaffirmed its complete opposition to the proposal, emphasizing its commitment to protecting national sovereignty.

The issue has reportedly created a rift between the NSA and the heads of the three defense forces. Rumors in Dhaka suggest that military officers have been directed to avoid contact with Dr. Rahman. This development highlights coordination challenges between the government and the military, adding complexity to the Rohingya crisis.