Doval, Bangladesh NSA hold talks amid tensions after Hasina's conviction

Bangladesh’s National Security Adviser Khalilur Rahman arrived in New Delhi on Wednesday to attend the seventh meeting of the National Security Advisers of the Colombo Security Conclave (CSC) here on November 20, which is being hosted by India.

His trip comes just days after a Dhaka tribunal convicted former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and handed her a death sentence. Hasina has been in India on asylum since fleeing Bangladesh last year amid violent unrest.

According to Bangladesh Foreign office, Rahman held bilateral talks with his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval.

“They discussed work of CSC and key bilateral issues. Dr Rahman invited Doval to visit Bangladesh at his convenience,” Dhaka said. Apart from Bangladesh, NSAs from the Maldives, Mauritius and Sri Lanka, will participate in the meeting, while Seychelles will attend as an observer and Malaysia as a guest country.

Anchored by India, the CSC aims to deepen security ties among member states across five key pillars: maritime safety and security; countering terrorism and radicalisation; combating transnational organised crime; cyber security and protection of critical infrastructure; and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.  The New Delhi meeting is expected to review ongoing initiatives under these pillars and chart out the Roadmap and Action Plan for 2026.