Bangladesh is seeking to balance two powerful neighbors at a time of growing political and strategic uncertainty. While China remains its largest trading partner and arms supplier, India is indispensable for geography, connectivity and regional security. That delicate balancing act has come under fresh strain after former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, living in exile in India since her ouster, announced plans to return to Bangladesh, prompting sharp protests from Dhaka. At the same time, Bangladesh continues to deepen economic and strategic cooperation with Beijing, raising new questions about the future balance of power in South Asia. Can Dhaka maintain its "Bangladesh First" strategy without being drawn into intensifying India-China competition? In this episode, we examine the latest tensions between Bangladesh and India, China's expanding role, and what Bangladesh's evolving foreign policy means for the Indo-Pacific.
*Recorded on August 13, 2026 at 3pm Taiwan Standard Time
Host: Wen-Ti Sung
Producer: Suvam Pal
Videographer: Celest Kao
Our guests:
Raian Hossain
- University of Nottingham Politics and International Relations Doctoral Researcher
Sana Hashmi
- Taiwan-Asia Exchange Foundation Fellow
Shahab Enam Khan
- Jahangirnagar University International Relations Professor
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