China engages Bangladesh amid rising tensions with India

English , International - بین الاقوامی , Snippets , / Tuesday, February 25th, 2025

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A 22-member delegation from Bangladesh, comprising political leaders, academics, civil society activists, and journalists, has embarked on a 10-day visit to China to engage in talks with Chinese government officials and senior Communist Party members.
This visit comes at a time of heightened diplomatic tensions between Bangladesh and India, particularly following the exiled status of Bangladesh’s former leader, Sheikh Hasina, in India. Dhaka has formally requested her extradition to face charges, but India has refused. Abdul Moyeen Khan, a senior Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) official leading the delegation, described the trip as a “goodwill visit” initiated by China. This delegation stands out due to China’s invitation of diverse groups from Bangladesh, including BNP representatives and those from the student movement that led the uprising against Hasina last year.
The visit follows diplomatic discussions earlier this year between Bangladesh’s interim government foreign policy advisor, Touhid Hossain, and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Analysts view China’s outreach as a strategic move to deepen its ties with Bangladesh in the absence of Indian influence. As the political landscape in Bangladesh shifts, Beijing is making its presence felt more than ever.
China is Bangladesh’s largest trading partner, with bilateral trade totaling approximately $24 billion. Additionally, Bangladesh’s military relies heavily on Chinese military equipment, with over 70% of its supplies sourced from China.
Beijing is eager to strengthen its ties with Bangladesh, a country of 170 million people, and increase its political and economic foothold as regional dynamics evolve.