National Security Advisor Khalilur demands his 'rights as a Bangladeshi'

National Security Advisor Khalilur Rahman has demanded proof after he was accused of being a foreign national.

Rahman told Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) on Sunday that the "burden of proving the allegation rests on the individual who made it and, if necessary, it would have to be proven before a court of law."

BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed recently alleged that Rahman is a foreign citizen.

At an event in Khulna on Saturday, the BNP leader told the chief advisor: "You have made a foreign national the national security advisor. You must remove him. Either he resigns or you terminate him."

"Any responsibility related to national security should not be given to a foreign national. This foreign citizen is hatching a conspiracy to create unrest in Bangladesh. We won't let it happen."

In response, Rahman, the chief advisor's high representative for Rohingya issues and priority affairs, said he remained prepared to exercise his rights as a Bangladeshi citizen.

A graduate in economics from Dhaka University, Rahman studied at Tufts University and Harvard University in the US from 1980-1983. He secured MA degrees in law and diplomacy and a PhD in economics.

A career diplomat, Rahman served as the special advisor to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in 1991. He has held several important posts in the UN in Geneva and New York for the next 25 years.

One of the founders of the East West University in Dhaka, Rahman was made the national security advisor and the high representative for Rohingya issues and priority affairs by the interim government. He also served as the private secretary to former chief advisor to the caretaker government justice Latifur Rahman in 2001.