Geo-strategic importance of Bangladesh in South Asia

March 16, 2023 2:49 pm

The main factor behind the geopolitical importance of Bangladesh is its geographical location. The country shares land borders with Myanmar and India. Due to this geographical location, Bangladesh acts as a connecting bridge between South Asia and Southeast Asia. Bangladesh is also an important geopolitical ally of India. Because, by using the mainland of Bangladesh, it is possible to integrate North-East India and the Indian mainland at large. Not only that, Bangladesh has become significant to both China and the US due to its open access to the Bay of Bengal.

Previously Bangladesh’s importance in South Asian geopolitics was largely defined by the Sino-Indian rivalry and the Indo-Pakistani conflict; Because India, Pakistan and China are all close to Bangladesh. But China’s growing ambitions in the South Asian region and the Bay of Bengal in the post-Cold War era have changed the geopolitical equation of Bangladesh. To control world politics and economy, China needs to expand its connectivity with the outside world. But due to the rivalry with its geopolitical rival neighboring India, the expansion of connectivity has increased the geopolitical and geostrategic importance of Bangladesh and India to China.

Geographical importance of Bangladesh to India: Bangladesh is very important militarily to India. Because China can easily close the Siliguri Corridor in a Sino-Indian military conflict. Through which India maintains communication with its eastern states. In this situation, India’s only option would be to use the territory of Bangladesh to protect its relations with the eastern states. This is why it is very important for India to maintain friendly relations with Bangladesh, which is necessary for its security. India is now proposing to connect its northeastern part with China through Bangladesh’s Chittagong port, which will complement the BCIM and the Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal (BBIN) corridor, further enhancing regional integration. India Now (BBIN) aims to allow ‘limited Chinese investment’ to boost connectivity and trade in the Northeast using sub-regional hubs. This paradigm shift in Indian policy towards the Belt and Road Initiative is seen as a possibility for a new beginning of India-China regional cooperation centered on Bangladesh, where an important Bangladeshi port will serve as a connectivity hub.

One of the goals is to connect the northeastern states of India with the Indian mainland. In this regard, the Siliguri Corridor has created the importance of Bangladesh to India. This corridor is one of the geographical imperatives for India. This narrow corridor separates the entire northeastern region from mainland India. Bangladesh forms an extensive link between mainland India and the northeastern region. Because Agartala to Kolkata is 1,650 km and New Delhi is 2,637 km via Shillong and Guwahati. On the other hand, the journey between Agartala and Kolkata through Bangladesh is only 550 km. Additionally, the average distance between major cities in Bangladesh and Northeast India ranges from 20 km to 300 km. As a result, Bangladesh has always been considered important for connecting the Northeast region with mainland India by rail, road and river. Not only that, the Northeast region of India is one of the most vulnerable areas in terms of security. The northeastern states are almost isolated from mainland India. Terrorists and separatists take advantage of the ‘Chicken’s Neck’ to launch their insurgency in these states. Bangladesh has always stood by India to deal with the situation.

China and US fight over the Indian Ocean: The Indian Ocean is a key and one of the trade routes for China’s energy supplies and routes. Nine of China’s 10 energy suppliers route through the Indian Ocean region. Securing this important sea line of communications is a top priority for China. China has an equal interest in the Indian Ocean region of the United States to counter China’s process of becoming an economic superpower. And the Bay of Bengal is one of the most important areas in the Indian Ocean region.

Bangladesh has become significant to both China and the United States due to its open access to the Bay of Bengal. It has 12 seaports facing the Bay of Bengal. Among which all three ports are located in Bangladesh. They are Chittagong, Mongla and Payra ports. So naturally, Bangladesh plays a very important role geographically for any country interested in establishing authority in the Indian Ocean region. Also, Bangladesh attaches great importance to China in the development of the ‘String of Pearls’ strategy and the ‘Maritime Silk Road’. Since the launch of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), China has taken special initiatives to strengthen ties with Bangladesh by pouring billions of dollars into infrastructure projects with its huge financial clout. China considers Bangladesh as one of the gateways to the Maritime Silk Road (a part of the BRI), which