A 22-member delegation from Bangladesh has embarked on a significant 10-day goodwill visit to China, marking a pivotal moment in the diplomatic relations between the two countries. The delegation, comprising political leaders, civil society activists, academics, and journalists, includes prominent figures from the student movement that played a crucial role in the mass uprising against Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina last year. The visit, initiated by Beijing, aims to strengthen ties and foster dialogue between the two nations.
The delegation's itinerary includes talks with Chinese government officials and senior members of the ruling Communist Party. Abdul Moyeen Khan, a senior official from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), described the visit as a goodwill mission orchestrated by China.
"It's basically a goodwill visit, initiated by Beijing." – Abdul Moyeen Khan, a senior official from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)
Bangladesh's reliance on China as its largest trading partner underscores the importance of this visit. Bilateral trade between the two nations amounts to approximately $24 billion, with a significant portion of Chinese exports to Bangladesh consisting of equipment and ammunition. The Bangladeshi military heavily depends on these Chinese supplies, with over 70% of its equipment sourced from China.
The backdrop to this visit is a period of political turbulence in Bangladesh. The United Nations has reported that the crackdown by Hasina's government on protesters during the uprising resulted in approximately 1,400 fatalities. In recent times, Beijing has intensified its engagement with Bangladeshi leaders, activists, and delegations, including those from Islamist parties, following Hasina's fall from power.
The geopolitical stakes are further heightened by India's critical stance on Bangladesh's engagement with China. Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar emphasized that it was Bangladesh's prerogative to decide on its bilateral relations with India. India has been particularly sensitive about China's growing influence in South Asia, as Bangladesh joins fellow regional countries Sri Lanka, the Maldives, and Nepal in the sphere of interest for both Delhi and Beijing.
The BNP organized a protest in December, alleging India's interference in Bangladesh's internal affairs by hosting Hasina. The Bangladeshi government has requested Hasina's extradition from India, but Delhi has so far refused. Living in exile in India, Hasina denies the charges against her.
Chinese analyst Zhou Bo at Beijing's Tsinghua University weighed in on India's concerns:
"I don't believe India should consider the whole subcontinent is under Delhi's sphere of influence. That attitude would make India suffer," – Chinese analyst Zhou Bo, a senior fellow at Beijing's Tsinghua University
This visit also follows a recent meeting between Bangladesh's interim government's foreign policy advisor and the Chinese foreign minister in January. Such interactions indicate Beijing's strategic intent to broaden its influence in South Asia, amidst ongoing tensions between regional superpowers.
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