INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
China.Securing $2.1 billion in Chinese investments, Yunus positioned Bangladesh not merely as a neighbor but as a critical player in the Bay
implications that stretch from Delhi to the Indo-Pacific.Muhammad Yunus and Xi Jinping
scheduling quirk; it was a statement
people, are rich in resources but geographically isolated, connected to the mainland by the Siliguri Corridor, a mere 22 kilometers at its
suggestion that Bangladesh could serve as a gateway for Chinese goods to reach global markets via its ports underscores this fragility.If
Chinese-backed airbase at Lal Munirat, just 60 kilometers from the Siliguri Corridor, add a security dimension.Described as a training
facility for Bangladeshi pilots flying 16 Chinese J-10C fighters, its proximity fuels fears of wartime utility.For India, these developments
network of ports and infrastructure across the Indian Ocean, often termed the String of Pearls, designed to secure trade routes and project
influence.From Gwadar in Pakistan to Hambantota in Sri Lanka and Kyaukpyu in Myanmar, Beijing has steadily built assets that flank
India.Mongla and Chattogram, alongside agreements to share hydrological data on the Yarlung Zangbo and Yamuna rivers, integrate Bangladesh
Can he deliver prosperity without ceding sovereignty?Relations with India add complexity
Narendra Modi reflects a desire to mend fences, but his Beijing visit has already shifted perceptions, casting Bangladesh as a nation
(Photo Internet reproduction)A Region in MotionSouth Asia is no static chessboard; it is a stage of rapid realignment
Yunus seeks to elevate his nation from regional player to maritime hub, a bridge between giants.For India, the challenge is to secure its
northeast without alienating Dhaka; for China, to expand influence without overreaching.As Bangladesh steps boldly into this contest, its
