In brief
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's first overseas trip to Malaysia and China underlines Dhaka’s recalibration of foreign policy. The focus of the Beijing visit centred on a Teesta River project and a special economic zone near Mongla port, signalling China’s willingness to assist in a sensitive regional issue. While relations with India, once strained following the ousting of Sheikh Hasina, have begun to thaw through renewed trade and border cooperation, tensions over migration and political manoeuvring persist. Bangladesh now faces the delicate task of balancing competing interests of its two Indian‑sized neighbours.
In a bid to revive a stalled economy, Bangladesh’s new Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has turned to China for investment and partnership while gradually normalising ties with its long‑time neighbour India.
The premier’s first overseas trip last month took him to Malaysia and then Beijing, a move analysts say marks a shift in Dhaka’s foreign‑policy priorities. While Malaysia was a traditional stop, China represents a more significant and strategic destination.
Key agreements arrived at Beijing included a joint technical feasibility study on the Teesta River and a deal to set up a special economic zone near the Mongla port. Both projects aim to aid Bangladesh’s trade infrastructure and address water‑sharing concerns that have long hampered relations with India.
India, which had been hostile to Bangladesh’s new government after the ousted leader Sheikh Hasina fled to Delhi in August 2024, has begun to ease pressures. Diplomatic ties have warmed, with Indian officials greeting the interim government and re‑opening bus services between Kolkata and Dhaka, along with assisting Bangladesh with emergency fuel amid global supply shocks.
Despite these steps, disputes over illegal immigration and border incidents remain flashpoints. Indian Border Security Forces have reportedly pushed near‑2000 Bengali‑speaking Muslims across the border, a claim Bangladesh’s officials reject and see as political interference.
The Teesta River project itself sits at the nexus of regional security, as any Chinese involvement near the “Chicken’s Neck” could upset the delicate balance of power that India watches closely. Chinese government officials have emphasised that the partnership is purely bilateral and free from third‑party influence.
With China already the largest defence supplier to Bangladesh, accounting for more than 70% of its armaments, and a pledge to build a China‑Myanmar‑Bangladesh economic corridor, Dhaka’s foreign‑policy calculus is increasingly complex. Yet India remains a vital neighbour for trade, security and migration concerns.
As Rahman seeks to navigate these waters, his administration faces a delicate balancing act, maintaining beneficial ties with both super‑powers while consolidating economic gains for Bangladesh.
