America's Bangladesh Dilemma: Democracy, Security, and the China Factor
Analysis of U.S. policy recalibration toward Bangladesh after the 2024 democratic transition, as Washington balances democratic support with China competition concerns.
Analysis and commentary on Bangladesh's political economy, foreign policy, and strategic affairs.
Analysis of U.S. policy recalibration toward Bangladesh after the 2024 democratic transition, as Washington balances democratic support with China competition concerns.
The Bay of Bengal emerges as a critical theater in great power competition during 2026, with Bangladesh navigating between Chinese investment offers and Indian security concerns while asserting its own maritime sovereignty.
For 15 years, India managed Bangladesh through Sheikh Hasina. That era is over. New Delhi must now choose between treating Bangladesh as an equal partner or accelerating its loss of influence in the region.
Indian media's 'Islamist coup' narrative systematically distorts the nature of Bangladesh's July 2024 revolution, erasing student agency and democratic aspirations to serve political agendas in New Delhi.
Major global powers have historically viewed Bangladesh not as an independent actor but through an 'India lens' — treating Dhaka as a subset of Delhi policy. This prism distorts how Washington, Tokyo, Moscow, and Brussels engage with a nation of 170 million, but post-August 2024 dynamics are forcing a recalibration.
Japan has invested billions in Bangladesh infrastructure — but Tokyo's strategic framework explicitly conceptualizes these investments as serving India connectivity. The question for Dhaka: can Japanese investment be reframed as bilateral partnership rather than triangulated development?
Analysis of why India's economic vulnerabilities, multi-front strategic constraints, and geopolitical risks make a full-scale military invasion of Bangladesh strategically suicidal—and how Dhaka can strengthen this deterrence against major aggression.
Analysis of Indian media's attempt to redirect blame for anti-India protests in Bangladesh following Sharif Osman Hadi's martyrdom, examining the 'ISI narrative' and its strategic failures.
Analysis of the systematic misinformation campaign by Indian media outlets against Bangladesh, its scale, documented cases, and devastating impact on bilateral relations.
A policy alternative exists: India as 'well-wisher' rather than 'big brother'—pursuing genuine partnership that serves both nations' interests rather than Indian dominance.