[🇧🇩] How Does Bangladesh fit into Indo-Pacific Strategy?

[Saif]

ভূ-রাজনীতিতে গুরুত্ব পাচ্ছে বাংলাদেশ: বাড়ছে নানা সমীকরণ

অর্থনৈতিক বিকাশ, রাজনৈতিক পরিপক্বতা, ভৌগোলিক অবস্থানের কারণে গুরুত্ব বাড়ছে বাংলাদেশের। বঙ্গোপসাগর তথা বৃহত্তর ইন্দো-প্যাসিফিক অঞ্চলে একটি উদীয়মান শক্তি হিসেবে আবির্ভূত হয়েছে বাংলাদেশ। আবার এ অঞ্চলের তিনটি বৃহৎ শক্তির সঙ্গে বাংলাদেশের সমীকরণ এবং ওই তিন বৃহৎ শক্তির নিজেদের...

www.banglatribune.com

ভূ-রাজনীতিতে গুরুত্ব পাচ্ছে বাংলাদেশ: বাড়ছে নানা সমীকরণ
শেখ শাহরিয়ার জামান
১৬ জুন ২০২৩, ২২:০১

বাংলাদেশের পতাকা (ছবি: সংগৃহীত)

অর্থনৈতিক বিকাশ, রাজনৈতিক পরিপক্বতা, ভৌগোলিক অবস্থানের কারণে গুরুত্ব বাড়ছে বাংলাদেশের। বঙ্গোপসাগর তথা বৃহত্তর ইন্দো-প্যাসিফিক অঞ্চলে একটি উদীয়মান শক্তি হিসেবে আবির্ভূত হয়েছে বাংলাদেশ। আবার এ অঞ্চলের তিনটি বৃহৎ শক্তির সঙ্গে বাংলাদেশের সমীকরণ এবং ওই তিন বৃহৎ শক্তির নিজেদের মধ্যকার জটিল সমীকরণের মাঝখানে রয়েছে বাংলাদেশ।

ভারতের সঙ্গে ঐতিহাসিক ও বিশেষ সম্পর্ক, যুক্তরাষ্ট্রের সঙ্গে অধিকারভিত্তিক ইস্যুতে অস্বস্তিকর সম্পর্ক এবং চীনের সঙ্গে ক্রমবর্ধমান অর্থনৈতিক ও কৌশলগত সম্পর্ক রয়েছে বাংলাদেশের। এ প্রেক্ষাপটে বাংলাদেশে আসন্ন আগামী নির্বাচনকে কেন্দ্র করে তিন বৃহৎ শক্তির অবস্থান জনসম্মুখে ক্রমাগত প্রকাশিত হচ্ছে।

গত বুধবার (১৪ জুন) যুক্তরাষ্ট্রের বিষয়ে শেখ হাসিনার নেওয়া অবস্থানকে সমর্থন জানিয়ে মন্তব্য করা হয় চীনের পররাষ্ট্র মন্ত্রণালয় থেকে। আবার একই দিন ভারত ও যুক্তরাষ্ট্রের ন্যাশনাল সিকিউরিটি অ্যাডভাইজরদের মধ্যে দিল্লির বৈঠকে বাংলাদেশ বিষয়ে ভারতের স্বার্থবিরোধী কোনও পদক্ষেপ না নেওয়ার জন্য ওয়াশিংটনকে অনুরোধ জানানো হয়। গোটা বিষয়টি বিবেচনায় নিলে বিশেষজ্ঞদের মতে বৈশ্বিক ভূ-রাজনীতির একটি থিয়েটারে পরিণত হয়েছে বাংলাদেশ।

এ বিষয়ে বাংলাদেশের সাবেক পররাষ্ট্র সচিব ও দিল্লি ইউনিভার্সিটির বঙ্গবন্ধু চেয়ার মো. শহীদুল হক বলেন, 'কূটনীতিতে কৌশলগত পদক্ষেপ (স্ট্র্যাটেজিক মুভ) এবং এর পাল্টা পদক্ষেপ খুব স্বাভাবিক ঘটনা। চীনের পররাষ্ট্র মন্ত্রণালয়ের বক্তব্য এবং ভারত ও যুক্তরাষ্ট্রের ন্যাশনাল সিকিউরিটি অ্যাডভাইজরদের মধ্যে বাংলাদেশ নিয়ে আলোচনার বিষয়টি যা পত্রিকায় প্রকাশিত হয়েছে– এটি স্বাভাবিক কূটনৈতিক পদক্ষেপ বলে মনে হয়।'

বঙ্গোপসাগর অঞ্চলে বৃহৎ শক্তিগুলো তাদের প্রভাব বলয় বাড়াতে চায় এবং একইসঙ্গে এখানে ক্ষমতার মধ্যে ভারসাম্য ও সমন্বয় থাকাটা অত্যন্ত জরুরি বলে মনে করেন সাবেক পররাষ্ট্র সচিব। তিনি বলেন, 'বঙ্গোপসাগরে বাংলাদেশের গুরুত্ব বাড়ছে এবং এখানে বিচক্ষণতার সঙ্গে পররাষ্ট্রনীতি বাস্তবায়ন প্রয়োজন। পরিবর্তিত পরিস্থিতিতে ভারসাম্য রেখেই বাংলাদেশকে এগোতে হবে।'

সাবেক এই পররাষ্ট্র সচিব বলেন, 'এখানে মনে রাখতে হবে কূটনীতি স্থবির নয়, বরং ক্রমাগত পরিবর্তনশীল। যেকোনও সম্পর্ক ভূ-রাজনৈতিক প্রেক্ষাপটে নতুন মাত্রা পায় এবং এটিই স্বাভাবিক। এই বাস্তবতায় বাংলাদেশের পররাষ্ট্রনীতি পরিচালিত হওয়া উচিত।'

আঞ্চলিক ভারসাম্য

দক্ষিণ এশিয়ার সবচেয়ে বড় দেশ ভারত। এ অঞ্চলে বাংলাদেশ ও ভারতের মধ্যে ঐতিহাসিক ও সাংস্কৃতিক সম্পর্ক বিদ্যমান। এ অঞ্চলের বর্তমান ভূ-রাজনৈতিক পরিস্থিতিতে বাংলাদেশ ও ভারতের গভীর সম্পর্কের আলোকে বিবেচনা করা দরকার। এ কথা উল্লেখ করে মো. শহীদুল হক বলেন, '১৯৭২ সালে কলকাতায় বঙ্গবন্ধু নিজেই বাংলাদেশ ও ভারতের সম্পর্ক কী সেটির সংজ্ঞা দিয়ে গেছেন। তিনি বলেছিলেন, বাংলাদেশ ও ভারতের মধ্যে সম্পর্ক ইটারনাল এবং বিশেষ সম্পর্ক। এটি সবসময়, সব বিষয় ও সর্বক্ষেত্রের জন্য। আমরা এখন যেটি দেখছি সেটিকে ওই সম্পর্কের প্রতিফলন বলা যায়।'

তিনি বলেন, এখানে একটি বিষয় লক্ষণীয়। ভারতে কংগ্রেস সরকার বা বিজেপি সরকার যেই থাকুক না কেন, বাংলাদেশ নিয়ে তাদের সবার মধ্যে ঐকমত্য রয়েছে এবং এর পরিবর্তন হয় না। এ কারণে বিভিন্ন সময়ে, বিশেষ করে গত ১৫ বছর ধরে ভারতের সমর্থন পেয়ে আসছে বাংলাদেশ।

ত্রিমুখী সম্পর্ক

বাংলাদেশ ও ভারতের মধ্যে সম্পর্ক অত্যন্ত মধুর। আবার ভারত ও যুক্তরাষ্ট্রের মধ্যে সম্পর্ক অত্যন্ত গভীর। কিন্তু ভারতের দুই বন্ধু– বাংলাদেশ ও যুক্তরাষ্ট্রের মধ্যে কিছু বিষয় নিয়ে অস্বস্তি রয়েছে, যা প্রকাশ্যে বলা হচ্ছে। এ বিষয়ে দিল্লিতে পররাষ্ট্রনীতির বিশেষজ্ঞ ও বিজেপির ঘনিষ্ঠ পর্যবেক্ষক শুভ্রকমল দত্ত মনে করেন, বাংলাদেশ ও যুক্তরাষ্ট্রের মধ্যে বহুমাত্রিক সম্পর্কটি একান্তই দ্বিপক্ষীয়। কিন্তু ভূ-রাজনীতিতে দ্বিপক্ষীয় সম্পর্কের প্রভাব অন্য দেশের ওপর পড়তে পারে।

তিনি বলেন, আমার মতে ভারত চায় না বাংলাদেশ ও যুক্তরাষ্ট্রের দ্বিপক্ষীয় সম্পর্কের কোনও প্রভাব তাদের ওপর পড়ুক। ভারত উভয় দেশের বন্ধু এবং তাদের এ বিষয়ে একটি দায়িত্ববোধ আছে। যদি দিল্লির পক্ষে সম্ভব হয় তবে অবশ্যই বন্ধুদের মধ্যে দূরত্ব কমানোর জন্য তাদের একটি চেষ্টা থাকবে।

নিরাপত্তা সমস্যা নিয়ে ভারতের যে উদ্বেগ ছিল সেটি সমাধানে এগিয়ে এসেছে বাংলাদেশ এবং বাংলাদেশ ও ভারতের শীর্ষ নেতৃত্ব অর্থাৎ শেখ হাসিনা ও নরেন্দ্র মোদির মধ্যে সম্পর্ক ভিন্নমাত্রার। তাদের মধ্যে চমৎকার বোঝাপড়া আছে। ফলে এক দেশের সমস্যা অন্য দেশে অনুভূত হবে বলে প্রতীয়মান হয় বলে তিনি জানান।

শিগগিরই ভারতের প্রধানমন্ত্রী নরেন্দ্র মোদি ওয়াশিংটন সফর করবেন জানিয়ে শুভ্রকমল দত্ত বলেন, আমার ধারণা যুক্তরাষ্ট্রে বিভিন্ন আলোচনার মধ্যে দক্ষিণ এশিয়ায় স্থিতিশীলতা এবং বৃহত্তর ইন্দো-প্যাসিফিক নিয়ে আলোচনার সুযোগ আছে। সেখানে বাংলাদেশ নিয়ে ভারতের প্রধানমন্ত্রী কিছু বললে সেটি হবে একটি স্বাভাবিক ঘটনা।​

 

[Saif]

UK minister for Indo-Pacific flies in Dhaka tomorrow

The visit marks the first UK ministerial visit to the country since the formation of the interim government

www.thedailystar.net

UK minister for Indo-Pacific flies in Dhaka tomorrow

Catherine West

UK Minister for the Indo-Pacific Catherine West is scheduled to arrive in Dhaka tomorrow to discuss the UK's support for political and economic reforms, security, trade cooperation and UK-Bangladesh migration.

The visit marks the first UK ministerial visit to the country since the formation of the interim government.

"The one-day visit will include key meetings with the chief adviser and foreign adviser, as well as political and business leaders and civil society," said UK High Commission in Dhaka in a statement today.

It said Rohingya refugees and the communities which host them in Bangladesh will receive essential assistance and services through new UK funding.

Bangladeshis affected by natural disasters this year will also receive UK funded assistance.

"Since the establishment of the interim government in August 2024, the UK has been clear in its support for interim government's work on accountability and creating a pathway to an inclusive democratic future for Bangladesh," it said.

Catherine West will meet with student leaders and political parties to discuss the UK's support in restoring democracy in Bangladesh. She will also meet with business leaders to discuss how the UK government can continue to create strong ties and boost mutually beneficial trade and investment.

In the statement, Catherine West said, "The UK supports the interim government's work to build a more prosperous and democratic future for the Bangladeshi people.

"I am proud to announce new UK funding to support Rohingya refugees and the Bangladeshi communities which host them with essential services and assistance."

British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Sarah Cooke said Bangladesh is currently undergoing a transformation, and as a longstanding friend, the UK will assist in the economic and political reforms which will help Bangladesh to continue its social and economic growth as it moves towards an inclusive and democratic future.​

 

[Saif]

Indo-Pacific free of dominance underscored

Politicians, academics and officials at a geopolitical conference in Dhaka on Sunday called for a free and open Indo-Pacific without dominance of any individual country while...

www.newagebd.net

Indo-Pacific free of dominance underscored
Staff Correspondent 18 November, 2024, 00:00

Speakers attend the plenary session titled ‘Turbulent Waters: Navigating Maritime Security in a Divided Indo-Pacific’ on the second day of the Bay of Bengal Conversation 2024 organised by the Centre for Governance Studies at a hotel in Dhaka on Sunday. | New Age photo

Politicians, academics and officials at a geopolitical conference in Dhaka on Sunday called for a free and open Indo-Pacific without dominance of any individual country while former Mali prime minister Moussa Mara pointed out how unequal the world system was.

They emphasised the need for people-to-people relations to ensure peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

In his special address, Moussa said that inequality between the countries created anger and the situation could last longer since there were global trends to elect leaders mostly against migration and cooperation and also for inequalities in a fractured world.

He also described inequalities among African countries, saying that although they were oil-producing nations, they were facing oil shortage.

He underlined the need for ensuring governance, transparency and accountability.

‘Governance remains the key for all countries, Global South in particular,’ Moussa said while underlining the need for strengthening the United Nations system and reforming the international financial system so that all could be equally benefited.

About Bangladesh’s transition to democracy, he said that it was their hope that Bangladesh would succeed in returning to ‘real democracy, freedom of speech, human rights and holding a free and fair election and become a model for others.

Speaking at plenary session on ‘Turbulent Waters: Navigating Maritime Security in a Divided Indo-Pacific’, acting High Commissioner of Australia to Bangladesh Nardia Simpson said that the challenge today was that these issues were compounded by the fact that they were situated against the backdrop of broader geo-strategic competition in the Indo-Pacific region.

The real challenge, according to the diplomat, was as to how, in this context, countries could contribute to the strategic balance in the Indo Pacific region and build coalitions to foster assurance against these challenges both in terms of the technical aspects of the challenges themselves, but also finding the political will to work together in these challenging times.

‘Our interests remain clear. A region that is peaceful and predictable, that is governed by accepted rules and norms, where all of us can cooperate, trade and thrive, where a larger country does not determine the fate of a smaller country, where each country can pursue its own aspirations, where no country dominates, and no country is dominated,’ the Australian envoy said.

She said that this vision for the region was grounded in sovereignty. ‘Sovereignty, at a fundamental level, is about being able to make your own decisions, and shape your own future,’ Nardia Simpson added.

Bangladesh Institute of Maritime Research and Development director general Syed Misbah Uddin Ahmad said that Bangladesh should revisit its Indo-Pacific Outlook since it was framed ‘hurriedly’ in 2023.

The document envisions ‘a free, open, peaceful, secure and inclusive Indo-Pacific for the shared prosperity for all’.

David Brewster, senior research fellow of National Security College in Australia, Dominique Rakotozafy, former minister of National Defense, Madagascar and Sanjay Kumar Bhardwaj, professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University in India, also addressed the session moderated by Leonardo Paz Neves, researcher at International Intelligence Unit, Getulio Vargas Foundation in Brazil.

The panel discussion explored pressing security issues, such as tensions in the South China Sea and illegal fishing in the Bay of Bengal.

The Indo-Pacific maritime corridors are vital for global trade but increasingly fraught with security challenges, from territorial disputes to piracy and environmental threats, according to the panelists.

They touched upon collaborative approaches, including the Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ maritime security initiatives and naval cooperation of the Quad (a grouping of Australia, India, Japan, and the United States), to promote stability in these contested waters and safeguard economic lifelines in a fractured world.

Bangladesh’s interim government chief adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Saturday inaugurated the three-day Bay of Bengal Conversation at a city hotel with Centre for Governance Studies executive director Zillur Rahman in chair.

Around 200 speakers, 300 delegates and 800 participants from 80 nations, representing diverse voices across various sectors and geographies have joined the third edition of the annual geopolitical talks with the theme ‘A Fractured World’ concluding today.​

 

[Bilal9]

বাংলাদেশ ও ভারতের মধ্যে সম্পর্ক অত্যন্ত মধুর। আবার ভারত ও যুক্তরাষ্ট্রের মধ্যে সম্পর্ক অত্যন্ত গভীর।

I thought to myself "what he's smoking must be something good" then I looked at the date which was 2023.

Such shameless kowtowing to India had to be rewarded by Hasina with some good "charas".

 

[Saif]

Yunus, Rubio discuss boosting Indo-Pacific security in 15-minute call

Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus has held a phone call with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, with both sides expressing commitment to boosting cooperation on Indo-Pacific security. The conversation took place at 7:30pm on Monday and lasted 15 minutes, according to a statement from the Chief Advisor&

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Yunus, Rubio discuss boosting Indo-Pacific security in 15-minute call

bdnews24.com
Published :
Jun 30, 2025 23:29
Updated :
Jun 30, 2025 23:29

Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus has held a phone call with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, with both sides expressing commitment to boosting cooperation on Indo-Pacific security.

The conversation took place at 7:30pm on Monday and lasted 15 minutes, according to a statement from the Chief Advisor’s Office (CAO), which described the exchange as warm, cordial, and constructive -- reflecting what it called “excellent bilateral ties”.

The US State Department said the two leaders had discussed advancing economic ties between Dhaka and Washington, alongside pledging to work together to enhance peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

The call came amid continued talks between the two governments over supplementary tariffs on Bangladeshi goods imposed by the Donald Trump administration.

The CAO had earlier said discussions on the matter resumed on Saturday.

A separate press note said the latest meeting was held in Washington on Thursday, with Bangladesh represented by National Security Advisor Khililur Rahman and the US side led by an assistant trade representative.

The call with Secretary Rubio was disclosed after that round of trade talks.​

 

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https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/views/views/between-giants-bangladeshs-strategy-in-the-indo-pacific

Between giants: Bangladesh's strategy in the Indo-Pacific

Serajul I Bhuiyan
Published :
Dec 24, 2025 22:35
Updated :
Dec 24, 2025 22:35

People from all walks of life placed wreaths at the National Mausoleum at Savar while celebrating the Victory Day on December 16, 2025.

Bangladesh is presently at a crucial juncture-it is in a transition period and undergoing a visionary shift in its foreign policy. It is a fact that the pragmatic doctrine of "friendship to all, and malice towards none" has enabled Bangladesh to keep itself intact for the past several decades. However, the arrival of a divided world order, amid rising strategic competition among global powers, makes it imperative for Bangladesh to realign its foreign policy within a smarter framework of independent non-alignment. Recognising the divided world, Nobel Laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus is signaling a visionary shift in Bangladesh's foreign policy-a framework of proactive, independent non-alignment to balance engagement with the United States (US), China, India, and the rest of the Indo-Pacific.

NEW GEOPOLITICAL REALITY: The relevance of Bangladesh lies in its landmass, which is known as "The Northern Bay of Bengal Maritime Crossroads" because it is where all routes to shipping lines in East Asia, Southeast Asia, East Africa, and the Middle East converge. Approximately "90 percent of all world maritime trade" reaches or passes through the Bay of Bengal. The maritime "backbones" of Bangladesh include Chattogram, Mongla Sea Ports, and the new "deep sea port" at "Matarbari" that is being globally sought after by "leading world powers such as India, China, USA, Japan, and EU in search of new routes that could be part of Indo-Pacific Supply Chain."

This is partly due to the ever-increasing importance and stability of the economy of Bangladesh. With the interim government's renewed focus on accountability and regional, as well as international, diplomacy, the government's position in Dhaka has been enhanced regarding the politics of the Bay of Bengal. The Indo-Pacific Strategy, which focuses on balancing the growing importance of China through alliance and trade, and the BRI, which considers Bangladesh an inseparable part of the Maritime Silk Route, are the two most significant grounds on which international interest in Bangladesh has been raised.

SINO-AMERICAN COMPETITION: China has proven to be a major trading partner and a critical source of financing for the Bangladesh government's infrastructure development initiatives. Among the major projects China has participated in and are critical to the country's development are the Padma Bridge project, rail linkage projects, the Karnaphuli tunnel project, the Payra and Matarbari power projects, and the development of Special Economic Zones. China considers Bangladesh a critical partner for the Maritime Silk Route project, which seeks to provide marine connectivity to the Bay of Bengal.

Despite that, there are dangers associated with Bangladesh's ever-increasing reliance on loans from China. This is particularly the case if repayments are not managed carefully. It is already evident to other nations that the positioning of debts can pose risks to the concerned countries. Moreover, the ever-increasing presence of the Chinese Navy within the Indian Ocean and China's presence in Myanmar are already posing threats to India and the US. Bangladesh must benefit from China's presence without being influenced by its politics.

USA-THE SECURITY AND MARKET POWER: The USA continues to be Bangladesh's leading export market, especially for the RMG sector, and a major source of development and humanitarian assistance. Bangladesh is a very significant country for the USA in the context of its Indo-Pacific strategy, specifically in terms of stability of sea-lane routes, improvements in labor laws, diversification of supply chains, and support for humanitarian efforts such as the Rohingya crisis. The USA encourages the development of the information sector.

Issues pertaining to governance, labor, and democracy, when treated conjunctively, pose a possibility of conflict owing to the Washington model emphasis. The new policy context Bangladesh faces, aimed at reinstating its integrity and upholding its promises of transparency, presents a fresh start for Bangladesh and the U.S. Once again, Bangladesh is thrust into the world arena due to the U.S.' values-based foreign policy.

INDIA - THE REGIONAL LEADER: On the one hand, the Bangladesh factor appears to be an intrinsic component of the Indian strategy, especially with New Delhi pushing to be an elbow-throwing maritime power in the Indo-Pacific region. The Bangladesh factor remains very important in Indian calculations regarding the implications of terrorism, stability, and connectivity in Northeast India. On the other hand, one can see concerns about China's growing influence, especially as Bangladesh appears to be challenged in water resource distribution, trade, and border disputes despite its growth ambitions.

The government of Bangladesh must therefore find a subtle balance, with strong cooperation with India on matters of common interest and differences in priorities in other areas.

BALANCING WITHOUT ALIGNING: The ideology and strategy of the foreign policy of Bangladesh had been prevalently based on non-alignment and peaceful coexistence. It must, in the contemporary international setup, necessitate the need for an active policy; that is, engagement rather than alignment. It is necessary that the country aims to establish better relations with both blocs while avoiding any dominance of one security line over the other.

The situation in which the balance must be maintained among China, the United States, and India poses challenges for the three nations, as they each have their own goals. While China seeks to provide infrastructure and dominate the maritime area, the United States seeks security for its sea lanes and the idea of democracy and governance. On the other hand, the Indian government seeks stability and limits other nations' influence in South Asia. Bangladesh, on the other hand, should benefit from the situation rather than be drawn into initiatives taken by other nations.

SECURING THE BAY OF BENGAL: There can be no satisfactory strategy for the Indo-Pacific without a comprehensive strategy for the sea. The Bangladesh sea area extends beyond 118,000 sq km and includes significant gas resources, fishing grounds, and potential for the Blue Economic Zone. The settlement of the sea boundary with Myanmar in 2012 and then with India in 2014 significantly reinforced Bangladesh's sovereignty over the sea area compared to the earlier adjusted boundary line. Yet the Bay of Bengal is one of the most volatile areas for the risks of conflict and instability, incorporating illicit fishing, smuggling, human trafficking, and the risks posed by climate change.

The need for modernisation among the Navy and Coast Guard has emerged as a pressing issue these days. Effective coastal radar systems, underwater resource surveying, maritime mobility, and the ability to protect naval facilities in cyberspace are among the most imperative areas, and Bangladesh must develop them. The possibility of conducting joint maritime drills with other friendly nations can also help promote mutual cooperation and deterrence to a great extent. Bangladesh needs an expanded coast guard presence to protect fisheries, prevent illegal use of Bangladeshi fishing vessels, and ensure safe passage. Climate change is causing erosion and intensifying cyclones; therefore, disaster relief preparedness is a priority.

DHAKA'S ECONOMIC DIPLOMACY: The greatest strength in Bangladesh's geopolitics thus lies not in its military capabilities but in its economy. The fact that the country now stands as the second-largest RMG exporter globally, the country's envisaged Bay of Bengal logistics hub positioning, and the growth of the Bangladesh information economy from strength to strength are thus a strong bargaining position for the country's government in the global stage. Diversification in the economy is thus required for the country as it moves into the graduation stage as an LDC.

The foray into new areas of shipyard construction, green innovation, electronics, and biotechnology in the marine domain would mark a new path for Bangladesh's economy. Likewise, the Blue Economy could also generate fresh opportunities for Bangladesh in a proper fishing manner, offshore energy, and marine research. Bangladesh could also diversify its economic diplomacy with Japan, Korea, the EU, and the SE Asian countries to sidestep dependence on a sole large trading partner and assist the country to integrate into the world's strong supply chains.

CONNECTIVITY AND THE INDO-PACIFIC ARCHITECTURE: In short, the Indo-Pacific vision is implicitly geopolitical, but primarily a connectivity project. The infrastructure, land corridor, energy, information, and communications technology sectors constitute the essential life lines of the new paradigm. Bangladesh is placed at the intersection of three major connectivity projects.

In the Indian Bay of Bengal group, there are BBIN, BIMSTEC, and the SAGAR Initiative, which provide various opportunities for the integration of Bangladesh with Nepal, Bhutan, or Southeast Asia. Then there is the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative, which brings much-needed infrastructure investment and cooperation with MNCs to Bangladesh. However, Bangladesh should remain cautious in managing the latter. US-led initiatives regarding the diversification of the supply chain provide Bangladesh with an opportunity to locate within the emerging global chain as the whole world shifts away from China.

BANGLADESH'S INDO-PACIFIC OUTLOOK: The Bangladesh Indo-Pacific Outlook, a framework strategy adopted by Bangladesh in April 2023, is a guidelines document that helps Bangladesh cope with a fluid and dynamic regional landscape. While being different from the strategies that emphasise alliances and blocs as key building blocks, as articulated and pursued by rival great powers, Bangladesh's IPO is rooted in four principles: inclusiveness, non-intervention, sea lane stability, and partnership for development.

With the evolving nature of competition in the Indo-Pacific, Bangladesh has had to develop its strategic thinking to respond to the changing challenges posed by the reshaped global supply chain, the growth of military presence in the Indian Ocean, and the ever-changing Myanmar politics. The IPO, therefore, becomes a living, dynamic document, not a static one.

CURRENT CHALLENGES: Bangladesh's Indo-Pacific strategy is facing growing stakes amid emergent geopolitical realities. Decoupling policies in the West are transforming into de-risking policies regarding China, and Bangladesh sees opportunities in having its factories moved from China and reducing overdependence on China's technological advances. On the other hand, the rising capabilities of the Indian Navy and the rising importance of the Bay of Bengal in QUAD initiatives are changing the region's security landscape, having direct implications for Bangladesh.

The growing footprint of China in the region and the dynamic changes in the Myanmar conflict, especially the re-emergence of the Arakan Army, present new security imperatives for Bangladesh's southeastern perimeter. The Rohingya crisis, which was initially only a humanitarian concern, has now transformed into a regional security concern entwined in the competing interest agendas of the US, China, the ASEAN bloc, and India. On the other hand, climate change has become a new fulcrum in international security considerations, as countries are now re-evaluating their security imperatives in light of climate vulnerabilities. Bangladesh stands as the only state with both moral and diplomatic influence to shape international climate policy.

On the domestic front, Bangladesh's focus on transparency, reform, and good governance has enhanced the country's credibility on the international stage. Global partners are increasingly amenable to cooperation as Bangladesh introduces economic reforms and pursues an anti-corruption agenda, thereby cementing Bangladesh's strategic importance in the emerging Indo-Pacific vision.

THE REAFFIRMATION OF SOVEREIGNTY: A clear change in Bangladesh's geopolitical stance has emerged with the advent of the Yunus-led interim government. At the heart of this shift is a proactive foreign policy agenda that seeks to address imbalances of various proportions in Bangladesh's international relations, especially with larger countries like China and India. Yunus's stance is based on the unequivocal expression of sovereignty and freedom of international actions and decisions, instead of bilateral cooperation based on strategic submission. Simultaneously, he has emphasized the importance of reviving multilateralism within the SAARC framework and has suggested resuming cooperation with Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, and the Maldives to reintroduce unity and group activism in South Asia.

The diplomatic vision is rooted in careful engagement with the big international actors. Meanwhile, his administration has strengthened its partnership with the United States on governance, labor, and innovation, while maintaining a strong relationship economically and through infrastructure development with China. He also aims, however, to rebalance its relationship with India through mutual transparency, two-way advantages, and Bangladesh's full respect for its sovereignty as a state.

CONCLUSION: The people of Bangladesh are at the onset of a very defining era that promises to see their country gain more geopolitical importance. It is positioned to be a player that cannot be overlooked in the geopolitical rearrangements taking place in the Indo-Pacific. For the era that Bangladesh finds itself in, it has to tread very cautiously.

Foreign policy in Bangladesh must be proactive, assertive, and multi-directional, involving all key stakeholders and every action conditioned on our national interest. Managing various global interests is part of statecraft that has stopped being an art and has rather become a necessity.

Bangladesh would be confident with naval power, a diversified economy, and a sharpened diplomatic staff as a rightful participant in the growing Indo-Pacific order. In today's evolving global order, there is no call for Bangladesh to choose a side, but rather for the country to set the direction the journey shall take the state.

Dr Serajul I Bhuiyan is a professor and former head of journalism and mass communications at Savannah State University in Savannah, Georgia, USA.​