Tarique Rehman’s Foreign Minister Choice Raises Eyebrows
Bangladesh Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman (Image X.com)
Bangladesh Foreign Affairs Minister Khalilur Rahman carries legacy of Muhammad Yunus administration
By NIRENDRA DEV
New Delhi, February 18, 2026 — Bangladesh’s new Foreign Affairs Minister Khalilur Rahman is raising curiosity in New Delhi. His past as the national security advisor in the interim administration headed by Muhammad Yunus carries a legacy baggage. But he is known to have a working relation with India’s national security advisor Ajit Doval.
Khalilur Rahman is not a politician. He is also not a member of Parliament. His appointment came amid buzz that Bangladesh’s new Prime Minister Tarique Rehman will choose a career diplomat as the new Foreign Minister. That was explained to the tough geopolitical tightrope situation for Dhaka.
A section of commentators claimed that “the western lobby could have pitched for his berth and portfolio.” He has studied in India’s Jawaharlal Nehru University. His appointment gives a link of continuity in Dhaka, from Yunus to Tarique Rehman.
Observers believe that the growing interest of the US in Dhaka could possibly be explained for the appointment of Khalilur Rahman as the Foreign Minister of Bangladesh. Dhaka had managed a favourable tariff rate from the US. There have been hectic parleys among Dhaka officials with American diplomats.
New Delhi is taking a closer look at the appointment of Khalilur Rahman. But there’s a relief that the alliance led by Jamaat-e-Islami couldn’t stop the Bangladesh Nationalist Party from forming the government. New Delhi is possibly seeing scope of structural pulls within Bangladesh to restrain extremist elements in the country.
Bangladesh’s favourable tariffs from the US align well with Washington’s outreach in Dhaka. As Yunus-led administration in Dhaka pushed Bangladesh into the quagmire of geopolitics, India is keeping a watch on the trajectory in Bangladesh.
With the US taking interests in Myanmar and Donald Trump blowing hot and cold with China, Dhaka’s overtures in the next few days may reveal the direction of South Asia geopolitics.
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