Geopolitical Briefing: Bangladesh
5 August 2025
- China hosts inaugural trilateral dialogue with Bangladesh and Pakistan, creating a regional working group for deeper cooperation.
- Bangladesh negotiators conclude sixth round of Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) talks with Japan in Dhaka.
- Bangladesh approves purchase of 220,000 metric tons of U.S. wheat under a government-to-government deal to ease trade frictions.
- Islamist group backed by Turkish NGO publishes provocative “Greater Bangladesh” map, drawing Indian diplomatic condemnation.
- Bangladeshi High Commissioner begins first formal mission to Indian state of Tripura since regime change.
On 21–22 July, China hosted the first-ever trilateral foreign secretaries’ dialogue with Bangladesh and Pakistan, agreeing to establish a working group to promote “good‑neighbourly, equal and mutually trusted” cooperation (Facebook, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Reuters, The Times of India, The Times of India, The Economic Times). This engagement marks a strategic realignment of Bangladesh’s foreign policy toward greater collaboration with China‑aligned regional actors, enhancing foreign policy flexibility and reducing historic alignment constraints.
Between 21 and 26 June, Bangladesh and Japan completed the sixth round of EPA negotiations held in Dhaka via hybrid format, addressing trade in goods, services, origin rules, investment, e‑commerce and IP. The two sides agreed to schedule the seventh round via diplomatic channels (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan). Progress toward an EPA by year‑end would diversify Bangladesh’s economic partnerships, enhancing trade leverage with non‑regional powers.
On 30 July, Bangladesh authorized a government‑to‑government purchase of 220,000 metric tons of U.S. wheat at $302.75/ton, part of an MoU to import 700,000 tons annually over five years to mitigate tariff pressures and improve trade ties with Washington (Reuters). This step strengthens economic diplomacy with the U.S. and offers strategic relief to the garment‑dependent export economy.
Recently, Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar flagged a Dhaka‑based Islamist group named Saltanat‑e‑Bangla, backed by a Turkish NGO, over publishing a map claiming ‘Greater Bangladesh’ that encroaches upon Indian territory. The development sparked official objection from New Delhi over potential regional instability (The Times of India). Such provocative nationalism exposes Bangladesh to diplomatic pressure while reflecting internal ideological assertiveness.
In the past week, Bangladesh’s High Commissioner to India, M. Riaz Hamidullah, launched a three‑day mission in Tripura, marking the first senior Bangladeshi diplomatic visit to the Indian state since August 2024. Meetings addressed bilateral connectivity, trade, cross‑border crime, migration, and cultural ties (apnews.com, The Times of India). Amid rising tensions with New Delhi, this outreach illustrates selective engagement based on national interest.