National Security Adviser Khondaker Khalilur Rahman declared that Bangladesh, as a sovereign state, reserves the right to meet with any party in its national interest. Commenting on the government's contact with the Arakan Army, he said the group now controls areas along the border and is open to ceasefire talks. “Regardless of who controls the other side, we must maintain peaceful communications to manage our borders,” he added. Myanmar’s military, upset over these contacts, lodged a formal protest in April.