Bridging Fault Lines: How the Doval–Rahman Dialogue May Redefine Bharat–Bangladesh Relations

Paromita Das

New Delhi, 24th November: In South Asia’s ever-shifting geopolitical theatre, where history and politics often blur into each other, Bharat and Bangladesh once again find themselves at a delicate crossroads. The recent meeting between Bangladesh’s National Security Adviser, Dr. Khalilur Rahman, and Bharat’s NSA, Ajit Doval, in New Delhi may not have grabbed global headlines — yet its significance runs deep.

Amidst Dhaka’s ongoing political upheaval and rising regional anxieties, this encounter offered a rare moment of quiet diplomacy. It was a conversation shaped not just by strategy, but by urgency — an attempt to steady bilateral ties at a time when faith, security, and politics are converging into one complex narrative.

A Relationship Under Strain: The Political Context

Few could have imagined how swiftly the political equation between Bharat and Bangladesh would transform. The military-backed coup in Dhaka, which displaced the Sheikh Hasina government and brought the Yunus administration to power, fundamentally altered the foundation of trust that once defined the relationship.

For years, Sheikh Hasina had been a strong proponent of cooperation with Bharat — from counterterrorism coordination to trade facilitation and regional connectivity. Her government had built a sense of predictability into the partnership. However, her death sentence issued by Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal on charges of crimes against humanity has injected the relationship with new volatility.

Currently residing under Bharat’s protection, Hasina’s presence has become a focal point of tension. Dhaka’s insistence on her extradition, coupled with Bharat’s measured refusal, underscores not only the diplomatic strain but also the larger clash of political legitimacy. For New Delhi, the decision is as much about law as it is about principle: returning a democratically elected leader to a regime born out of a coup would set a troubling precedent.

Security First: The Eastern Frontlines Under Watch

Beyond the realm of politics, the situation carries significant security implications for Bharat. The power shift in Dhaka has coincided with a visible surge in Islamist radicalism and the re-emergence of networks long thought dismantled.

Intelligence inputs indicate increasing activity by groups sympathetic to extremist ideologies, with Pakistan’s ISI reportedly seeking to exploit the instability to establish fresh operational footholds near Bharat’s eastern borders and Northeast region. This resurgence of cross-border fundamentalist activity represents more than an ideological threat — it poses a tangible challenge to Bharat’s internal security and counterterrorism architecture.

What adds to the unease is the renewed diplomatic warmth between Dhaka and Islamabad. A series of high-level military visits, economic consultations, and direct air links between Bangladesh and Pakistan signal a realignment that could reshape South Asia’s power dynamics. While these developments might appear as routine diplomacy on the surface, their timing — coming amid heightened tensions with Bharat — suggests strategic recalibration.

The Colombo Security Conclave: Dialogue Amid Divergence

The seventh Colombo Security Conclave (CSC) provided the formal stage for this crucial Doval–Rahman interaction. The platform, designed to foster regional cooperation on maritime security, cyber safety, and counter-terrorism, became the backdrop for an even more pressing conversation: how to manage bilateral discord without undermining shared security interests.

According to diplomatic sources, both sides emphasized the need to keep communication lines open, despite mounting distrust. The fact that Dr. Khalilur Rahman extended an invitation to Ajit Doval to visit Dhaka is telling — it signals that Bangladesh, while navigating its internal instability, still recognizes the geopolitical cost of alienating Bharat.

For Bharat, maintaining a channel of engagement is a strategic necessity, not just a diplomatic courtesy. With the eastern borders sensitive and maritime corridors crucial for trade and defense, New Delhi’s measured pragmatism reflects its intent to prevent the region from slipping into deeper polarization.

Diplomacy or Distance: Reading Bharat’s Balancing Act

Bharat’s current approach to Bangladesh can best be described as strategic patience — a policy calibrated to balance principled restraint with situational engagement. New Delhi has refrained from open confrontation or endorsement, focusing instead on upholding legal frameworks and supporting democratic norms without overtly interfering in Dhaka’s domestic affairs.

This nuanced diplomacy stands in contrast to the emotionalism that often defines regional politics. Bharat understands that a hostile or unstable Bangladesh serves no one’s interest — not economically, not culturally, and certainly not strategically. However, maintaining this equilibrium will require persistent engagement, especially when political undercurrents are shifting fast.

The Cost of Silence and the Power of Dialogue

While Bharat’s restraint is commendable, silence cannot be a long-term policy. As extremist forces gain traction and Dhaka’s alignment with Pakistan deepens, Bharat must move beyond defensive caution. Strategic communication, people-to-people outreach, and sustained diplomatic presence must form the next phase of engagement.

The Doval–Rahman meeting, therefore, is not just an isolated event — it represents a test of Bharat’s diplomatic resilience. How effectively Bharat can combine moral clarity with realpolitik will determine whether this relationship stabilizes or fractures further.

Between Instability and Opportunity

The Bharat–Bangladesh relationship now stands at a historical inflection point. The twin challenges of political upheaval in Dhaka and rising regional insecurity present both a risk and a rare opportunity. The meeting between Ajit Doval and Khalilur Rahman may have been brief, but it reaffirmed one crucial truth: dialogue remains the only bridge across distrust.

For Bharat, the path ahead will demand both firmness and flexibility — defending democratic values while preventing the neighborhood from drifting into instability. For Bangladesh, genuine engagement offers a chance to rebuild confidence and reclaim regional balance.

In a subcontinent often defined by reaction, this quiet conversation between two NSAs might just mark the start of a new phase in diplomacy — one where stability, not sentiment, shapes the future of South Asia.