What Makes Bangladesh So Important in Geopolitics?

Bangladesh is important in regional geopolitics and geostrategic security due to its position in South and Southeast Asia. That much is clear from the persistent responses of strong nations and international organizations. Foreign meddling in what should be domestic politics and governance is one example. The country's political institutions are partly to blame. Because preserving national sovereignty necessitates a political and intellectual commitment and mandate that political parties do not share, Recently, it has become clear that the United States and some of its allies are meddling in Bangladesh's domestic politics. Without permission and in violation of international norms, foreign dignitaries are commenting on Bangladesh's election scheduled to be held in December or early January. Their actions cause great concern as well as provide fuel for thought on Bangladesh's impact on the international scene.

Alfred Thayer Mayan, a historian and captain of the American Navy, said in his book Sea Power Theory that "those who controlled the sea would rule the globe. This notion is rigidly followed in the United States. The United States maintains a sizable number of naval stations all over the world in order to maintain supremacy and surveillance.

Bangladesh recently conquered sea boundaries from Myanmar and India, gaining absolute and sovereign rights over 118,813 square kilometers of territorial sea, 200 nautical miles of exclusive economic zone, and all types of animal and non-animal resources found on the bottom of the territorial sea up to 354 nautical miles off the Chittagong coast. Thus, an unending economic door has opened.

Bangladesh owns three deep-sea ports in the Bay of Bengal (Chittagong, Mongla, and Payra), which are critical for both the security of China and India in the region as well as the growth of trade and the geopolitical dominance of Western powers and their Pacific allies. And in this case, everyone's attention is focused on Bangladesh. Bangladesh's geographic position and maritime boundaries have made it more internationally understandable in the geopolitical equation.

Bangladesh has also become a geostrategic priority due to US geopolitics and diplomacy regarding security alliances like Quad and AUKUS. We've seen the US struggle to influence the sea lanes of the Bay of Bengal to affect the geo-security of China and Myanmar. According to an interview provided by Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Afrin Akhtar in May of this year, the United States intends to supply radar technology to Indo-Pacific countries under its Indo-Pacific Maritime Domain Awareness Initiative (IPMDA) in order for them to create a common sea management program. The issue is linked to the United States' efforts to create a military hegemony in the area. As a butterfly effect, international involvement in Bangladesh's domestic issues has expanded more than before.

Another reason Bangladesh is attracting so much attention internationally is due to its diplomatic maturity. Over the last decade and a half, Bangladesh has emerged as a diplomatic powerhouse in the international community. Bangladesh has led efforts to promote world peace, mitigate climate change, and resolve the Rohingya issue, earning international accolades. Bangladesh addresses the Palestinians' right to life in the same manner that it talks freely about the war between Russia and Ukraine.

Speaking on behalf of Bangladesh as a member of the Friends of BRICS Leaders' Dialogue and the New Development Bank, PM Sheikh Hasina said, "We need BRICS as a lighthouse in a multi-polar world. We hope to see BRICS emerge as an inclusive platform responding to our times". She strongly spoke against the artificial choices and divisions being thrown at the countries of the Global South. "We must reject attempts to weaponize universal norms and values. We need to stop the cycle of sanctions and counter-sanctions. We must speak out against all threats, provocations, and commissions of war," she said. Bangladesh, a developing country, has surprised the international community with its diplomatic boldness and powerful presence in international forums.

Bangladesh's rapid development and ambitious plans for the future astounded the world. Earth.org attributes Bangladesh's economic success to civic sector innovation, community cooperation, and forward-thinking public policy. Bangladesh also performs well in terms of reaching all international goals, such as the Millennium and Sustainable Development Goals. Using strategic management and the advancement of human resources, a substantial population has been transformed into a public resource. Bangladesh's GDP and GNI have increased as a result.

Bangladesh today has a secure investment environment. As a result, major economies such as Japan, Russia, India, and China are working with Bangladesh on a variety of development projects, including the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, the Padma Bridge Rail Link Project, the Payra Power Plant, the Matarbari Thermal Power Plant, the Bangabandhu Tunnel under the Karnaphuli River, and the Metrorail. The US worries about regional powers' growing role in Bangladesh's growth.

In the twenty-first century, almost every South and Southeast Asian country is achieving economic progress. The fundamental cause of this is the absence of a major conflict or frontal crisis in the region. Furthermore, Bangladesh's zero-tolerance policy against terrorism and militancy is having a big beneficial influence on the region's stability and security. However, some recent US remarks and choices have acted as catalysts for the resurrection of fundamentalist forces in this country, casting the country's worldwide position against terrorism and militancy into doubt.

However, Bangladesh should not give in to external pressure and quit its battle against terrorism and militancy. It is the Bangladesh government's obligation to guarantee that Bangladesh's land and territorial seas are never utilized for terrorist purposes. Without a doubt, if the United States injects extremism and militancy into the political process under the guise of democracy, endangering regional security and stability, they will make a diplomatic blunder.


Kamal Uddin Mazumder is a
strategic affairs analyst.