External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar extended congratulations to Khalilur Rahman for his appointment as the Foreign Minister of Bangladesh in the new Tarique Rahman-led government. Khalilur Rahman took the oath as Foreign Minister alongside 49 other Cabinet members at the South Plaza of the Parliament complex. Jaishankar expressed optimism about enhancing India-Bangladesh relations and cooperation under Rahman’s leadership.
Khalilur Rahman previously served as the National Security Advisor in the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus. His appointment is notable as the BNP had demanded his resignation in May 2025, criticizing his policies. The controversy arose when Rahman was questioned about his US residency during an event at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka last year.
The inclusion of Khalilur Rahman in the cabinet has sparked allegations of election engineering, result manipulation, and constitutional reform complications, according to National Citizen Party (NCP) chief and MP Nahid Islam. The Daily Star, a prominent Bangladeshi newspaper, reported Islam’s concerns about Rahman’s potential ties to the BNP during the interim government’s tenure.
