A 21-member Bangladeshi delegation, including politicians, student leaders, and scholars, recently toured China (Feb 25–Mar 6) at Beijing’s invitation, Global Times reported. The group was reportedly wowed by China’s tech and infrastructure, and many now see the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) as key to Bangladesh’s economic future. They visited top Chinese firms like BYD and LONGi, soaking in China’s modernization drive.
It should be noted that China agreed in principle to extend Bangladesh’s loan repayment period and is reviewing a request to lower interest rates, Dhaka Tribune reported. Bangladesh urged China to reduce interest rates from 2-3% to 1%, waive off the commitment fee, and extend loan repayment terms from 20 to 30 years for Preferential Buyer’s Credit (PBC) and Government Concessional Loans (GCL).
According to an estimate by the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), a US think tank, the total investment from China in Bangladesh is $7.07 billion as of 2023.
A worrisome Pakistani presence
Meanwhile, in a move bound to raise eyebrows in Delhi, a Pakistani cargo ship is set to dock at Bangladesh’s Mongla Port—for the first time in 53 years! The Economic Times reported that this follows a government-to-government deal for importing 50,000 metric tonnes of Basmati rice from Pakistan. The ship, carrying 25 MT of rice, left Karachi’s Qasim Port and will first unload at Chittagong before heading to Mongla.
This development is striking because the previous Sheikh Hasina government had actively strengthened India-Bangladesh connectivity by granting access to Chittagong and Mongla ports. With Pakistan now getting a foothold, India may have reason to be concerned.
More unease on defence front
Adding to the unease, Pakistan’s ISI is reportedly expanding its influence in Bangladesh, with diplomats allegedly working behind the scenes to influence the legal system and push for the release of terrorists. Intelligence reports suggest that ISI-backed groups like Jamaat-e-Islami and Islami Chhatra Shibir have been fostering radical networks that could threaten both Bangladesh’s security and India’s regional interests.
Recently, Bangladesh’s Naval Chief Admiral Mohammad Nazmul Hassan met Pakistan Army Chief General Syed Asim Munir Ahmed Shah, in Rawalpindi, marking the second high-level defence meeting between the two nations in under a month.
The visit is seen as part of the Bangladesh interim government’s push to expand regional defence ties. Earlier, Bangladesh’s Army second-in-command had also met Munir in Rawalpindi.
Discussions reportedly focused on naval cooperation and Bangladesh’s participation in a Pakistan-led multinational naval exercise. A section of the Bangladesh military is advocating stronger defence collaboration with Pakistan, citing “regional stability” as a key factor.
Last month, ET reported that the Pakistan Army is set to launch training programs for the Bangladeshi military, alongside increased interactions between intelligence and defence officials from both sides since Sheikh Hasina’s exit from power.
More ripples in India’s backyard?
Bangladesh’s Army Chief General Waqar-Uz-Zaman has warned that the military could step in if the interim government fails to control law and order and protect the country’s sovereignty. Speaking at a memorial event in Dhaka, he blamed infighting among stakeholders for the worsening situation since August 2024.
Urging political factions to set aside their differences, he cautioned that continued discord could put Bangladesh’s independence and integrity at risk. He also noted that miscreants were exploiting the instability, making governance more challenging. In a striking remark, he suggested that his work was far from over, hinting at the military’s possible intervention if the situation doesn’t improve.
Since the ouster of Sheikh Hasina, Sufism and shrines have come under increasing attack in Bangladesh. Islamist groups like Hizbut Tahrir and Jamaat-e-Islami have allegedly destroyed over 100 Sufi shrines since the Mohammad Yunus-led interim government took charge last year.
Despite Bangladesh housing 12,000 mazars and 17,000 Sufi shrines, the crackdown on attackers has been minimal, with only 20 arrests so far.
The economic moves, military talks, domestic unrest and intelligence shifts all point to a changing regional playbook—one that could make India’s diplomatic balancing act trickier than ever.