By Nitya Chakraborty
Solely every week has handed because the BNP supremo Tarique Rahman has taken over because the Prime Minister of Bangladesh after the resounding victory of his celebration within the February 12 nationwide elections. The 60 12 months outdated PM who’s again to the nation after an exile of 17 years in Britain, is meant to offer all precedence to the rebuilding the tattered financial system and the administration within the nation, however his focus has shifted as all on a sudden, the US administration has bought overactive and intervening within the inside affairs of Bangladesh by asking the brand new authorities to take a place in opposition to China.
Such an open assertion by the US has not been seen within the latest months. In truth, the US embassy officers weren’t a lot lively within the first half of the tenure of the interim authorities, however the scenario modified because the February 12 election was approaching. There was a sudden change in Trump administration’s method to Bangladesh. The brand new U.S. ambassador Brent Christensen joined his obligation in Dhaka on January 12 this 12 months, only one month earlier than the February 12 elections. Since then, US officers together with Brent have been cultivating each the BNP and the Jamaat leaders in an effort to outsmart the Chinese language envoy Yo Wen who has been lively in Dhaka for the final three years establishing vast contacts at each degree of the federal government and the political events.
After the taking on because the Prime Minister, Tarique Rahman and his international minister Khalilur Rahman, a extremely skilled international service officer reviewed as traditional the connection with the three main nations India, USA and China and what steps ought to be taken within the pursuits of Bangladesh. A evaluate of the simply introduced US-Bangladesh commerce deal was additionally beneath dialogue. Points in regards to the balancing of the connection with all of the three main nations have been beneath radar.
When all of the preliminary discussions have been occurring, on Saturday February 21, the US ambassador Brent Christensen in a harsh assertion mentioned that he was involved on the broader Chinese language affect in South Asia with out naming Bangladesh. The letter despatched by Trump to Tarique additionally talked about that US-Bangladesh partnership relies on mutual respect and a shared curiosity in fostering a free and open Indo-Pacific. This just about signifies that the US desires Bangladesh as a associate in its Indo-Pacific safety technique in opposition to China, simply as Trump has roped in India as a associate in its anti-China safety technique.
So for Tarique Rahman, even earlier than he has stabilized his place, he’s beneath a risk by the usthat the brand new Bangladesh authorities needs to be part of the US technique in opposition to China if the brand new authorities desires to foster higher relations with the USA. Naturally, China additionally reacted vehemently subsequent day because the Chinese language envoy Yo Wen met the Bangladesh international minister and talked about that China appreciates Bangladesh declaration of following Bangladesh First coverage and China’s cooperation to Dhaka might be all pervasive and it isn’t focused in opposition to any third nation.
Tarique authorities may be very embarrassed on the anti-China slant of the US embassy from the soil of Dhaka however the authorities can do valuable little to stop the usfrom enjoying its massive brother position. Political sources in Dhaka say that the US is anxious on the final defence pact between Bangladesh and China. The US desires that Bangladesh mustn’t pursue its future talks with China for defence cooperation.
As per as notion is worried, Bangladesh folks largely nurse sentiments in opposition to each the India and the US. Within the final eighteen months because the fall of the Hasina authorities on August 5, 2024, the affect of China has elevated among the many folks in comparison with the decline in sentiments for US. Within the final go to of interim head Dr. Yunus to China early 2025, an enormous breakthrough was made in China’s funding in establishing industrial estates in several districts of Bangladesh. There was an settlement of a manufacturing unit for drones close to the Indian border inside Bangladesh. Tarique authorities is now requested by the US to evaluate the agreements afresh.
Onesided phrases of a just lately signed U.S. commerce deal have highlighted how new Bangladeshi Prime Minister Tarique Rahman faces a fragile balancing act in terms of ties with Washington and Beijing as the 2 vie for affect in his nation. On one aspect, the U.S. is touting market entry, safety cooperation and regulatory leverage, whereas China is providing infrastructure, industrial integration and protection provides.
China stays Bangladesh’s largest buying and selling associate and a dominant infrastructure investor, financing tasks from port modernization to industrial zones. The U.S. is Bangladesh’s largest export market and had for a very long time been its greatest international investor, although international direct funding (FDI) inventory has fallen sharply — from roughly $4 billion within the fiscal 12 months by way of June 2023 to about $1 billion as of September 2025, as a result of political turmoil and weak investor confidence throughout Yunus regime.
Chinese language FDI inventory in Bangladesh had reached about $3 billion as of September 2025. Beijing has additionally prolonged zero-tariff entry to Bangladeshi exports alongside a number of different least developed nations, first granting duty-free entry to 98% of merchandise in 2022 and later increasing the supply. China may be very eager to take care of its place as a significant defence system provider to Bangladesh. That is now being objected to by the Trump administration. This was not the scenario within the earlier years.
Beijing is carefully monitoring the developments in Bangladesh. President Xi Jinping himself met Dr. Yunus at his assembly and took private curiosity in increasing ties with Bangladesh in order that the South Asian nation can create substantial jobs with Chinese language help. China is not going to like its agreements to be nullified attributable to US strain. Tarique Rahman is beneath great strain from his advisers as additionally suppose tank to stay to Bangladesh First coverage and act taking into consideration strategic autonomy of Bangladesh as per the BNP manifesto. Subsequent few days will present whether or not Tarique has the heart to defy US strain and act taking into consideration the pursuits of Bangladesh solely. (IPA Service)
The article US-China Rivalry All of the sudden Intensifies In Bangladesh As Tarique Takes Over As PM appeared first on Newest India information, evaluation and experiences on Newspack by India Press Company).
