Reactions of Bangladesh on Indo Pacific Along With Security Issues

 

Bangladesh is in the cusp of severe political transition in South Asian Subcontinent. My respected readers will definitely comprehend about which issue I refer to at present. Very recently there has been a severe political upheaval in Bangladesh. The entire globe is well aware of the situation which has arisen on the aftermath of revolution of August 5, 2024. From then on an interim government has been formed under the leadership of Nobel Laureate Dr. Mohammad Yunus on 8 August 2024.

Now we have to trace out how Bangladesh is reacting to the situations prevailing at present. The former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina after losing her power on August 5 rushed directly to New Delhi and till date residing in a secluded venue nearby to Indian capital New Delhi. Before I delve into details. Let me throw some light on reactions about Bangladesh on Indo Pacific and Security aspect. This is the crux of my analysis.  Bangladesh, as we are well aware of is deeply involved into Indo Pacific issue with neighbouring India. Despite the current political turmoil, Bangladesh is deeply reactive on Indo-Pacific issue. From historical point of view, it is known to us that there are 40nations involved into Indo Pacific Economic Framework. The forum was formed in the year 2022 on May 23 by the current US President Joe Biden.

About history of Indo Pacific Economic Forum, we come to know from the historical data that the said Forum was coined for the first time by a German geo-politician named Karl Haushofer in the year 1920 through his diverse works on geography and geopolitics named Geopolitics of the Pacific Ocean (1924), Building Blocks of Geopolitics (1928), Geopolitics of Pan Ideas (1931) and German Cultural Politics in the Indo-Pacific Space (1939).

Now let me touch upon Indo Pacific. It is a geographical location which comprises of the Indian Ocean, the Western and Central Pacific Ocean along with sea level interlinked between the two. Indo Pacific Ocean is also significant because of its Geo-political importance. It is also regarded as the nerve-centre of some of the most populous nations like China, India, Japan and the US. The last named despite receding her dominance is still a dominant partner in global geopolitics. Bangladesh is also deeply involved in Indo Pacific Forum.

At the present juncture Bangladesh is in the midst of severe political turmoil. There is no proper governance in that nation. Caretaker governance has been imposed under the leadership of Nobel Laureate of economist Dr Mohammad Yunus.The objective behind is plain and simple, to ensure peace and development.Under Dr Yunus there are high level advisors who were elected in different capacities. Now two full months have been elapsed. Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina having fled to New Delhi is now staying at Hindon Airforce base near to Ghaziabad. It was on August 8, new caretaker government under Dr Yunus has assumed office at the state secretariat with bunch of advisers.

Now my task is to find out how Bangladesh is reacting on Indo-Pacific issue adjoining Security Aspect. Despite the current political turmoil, Bangladesh is also deeply worried about Teesta water supply and Rohingya issue. There are many experts from both nations who are deeply involved into Indo-Pacific along with analysing its security aspect. Notable among them are Pankaj Saran, Dr Sanjay Bhardwaj, Dr Imtiaz Ahmad, T.C.A Raghavan and Sunil Saran. There might be many others but in this shortest span of time it is not possible to touch upon the contributions of others from both nations.

Now let me touch upon reactions of Bangladesh on Indo-Pacific and its security aspect. It is already known to us that both India and Bangladesh are deeply involved into Indo-Pacific issues coinciding with its security aspect. There is a projection about involvement of Bangladesh on Indo-Pacific issue. As per the informations known to me, I find that Indo-Pacific document(which has its interests by Bangladesh) was released on April 2023.

Let me introspect about the involvement and inclination of Bangladesh upon Indo-Pacific region. It is a reflection of Bangladesh’s interest upon the above region. The nation reacts as such. That is a reciprocation of her interests in the region along with closer and cordial neighbour India. This is also a testimony of her commitment to economic growth. The dedication of Bangladesh as per inclination to law and order and also strengthening regional stability also expresses a firm commitment towards above issues.

Bangladesh is geographically located in such a position which is strategically important in South Asian as well as that of South East Asian Subcontinent respectively. This is because a port city of Bangladesh named Chittagong is closeby to Myanmar, which is located in South East Asian Subcontinent. As per Bangladesh’s location in Bay of Bengal is concerned. The nation is so strategically located, it is also vital in geopolitical terms, so that from geographical point of view lot of economic opportunities can be exploited for the economic development of both Sub-Continent’s benefit. Though the nation is now in the midst of severe political turmoil. But is our sincerest hopes and desires that Bangladesh will tide over the current turmoil soon.

Touching upon the reactions of Bangladesh on Indo-Pacific issue along with security aspect, let me have detailed analysis of both issues. The above possesses multiple reactions pertaining to Indo-Pacific in concurrence with security aspect.

Thus the common reactions of Bangladesh in connection with Indo-Pacific are stated as such, the nation doesn’t want too much of US intervention. This is because bothUS and China are in a grappling mood on Indo-Pacific, Bangladesh despite having commercial and business relations with China doesn’t prefer too much of US intervention, Bangladesh might be reactive on Indo-Pacific issue, but reactions cannot be expressed solely, as per the basic tenets of Article 25 of Bangladesh’s constitution, the nation should follow the principles of non-interference, peaceful co-existence etc.

Among the existence of eight nations in SAARC, what is interesting to be noted that in near future the confederation will have its rejuvenation. Among all the eight SAARC members, India and Bangladesh play prolific roles. The aim is nothing but to ensure peace and stability in the Sub-Continent.

Though Bangladesh is in the midst of highly volatile political situations. But still the scholars from the nation are deeply reactive about Indo-Pacific issue. There are many scholars in Bangladesh who are deeply reactive upon Indo-Pacific issue. Despite witnessing US, China rivalry, along with her limitations, we find that this rising nation of South Asian Sub-Continent,Bangladesh is willing to adopt a free, open and rules based Indo-Pacific region. The scholars of Bangladesh, especially from Dhaka University are regularly glancing over various research papers connected with Indo-Pacific issues.

 Along with the research papers, Indo-Pacific Strategic papers of progressive democracies like US, along with their views on Global Politics and Security issues are glanced over by them. In the same manner, in India research scholars from Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi University (both North and South ones), Ashoka University etc are undertaking massive work on the above fields. On account of the above issue, studies been conducted to find that how Bangladesh play vital roles on the above.

The objective behind it is that how Bangladesh could play significant roles in Indo-Pacific region. This probability could be made out judging by Bangladesh’s location in both South Asian and South East Asian Sub-Continents. It can be judged by the nation’s existence along with its geostrategic position.

From other historical data which I come to know. That on April 24, 2023, Bangladesh after a pretty long gap, in the midst of all those hesitancy and unwillingness, to pounce upon China, released a 15 point strategy in which emphasize on open, peaceful and all inclusive Indo-Pacific.

It was on April 24, 2024, Bangladesh opened her network on Indo-Pacific outlook with multiple objectives. Among all the objectives, some of the common ones are stated as such, themes of trade, security of the citizens of both India and Bangladesh and finally road connectivity. As per the last one is concerned, the opening of Padma River Multipurpose Bridge(6.16 kilometre length) connecting wide range of areas with neighbouring India and South East Asian nations can be rated as the glaring example in geopolitical development. This is also rated as the development and milestone in Indo-Pacific.

Role of Bangladesh in Indo-Pacific stands of as paramount importance from peace and stability point of view in and around South Asian Subcontinent. Among all the roles being played by Bangladesh some of the common roles are stated as such, strengthening of mutual trust and respect, it act as the cakewalk towards forging partnerships and cooperation and finally the aim is to promote dialogue, along with comprehension to ensure peace, prosperity and stability in and around Indo-Pacific, building up of maritime network, strict adherence to international law and conventions, which is inclusive of UNCLOS 1982, carrying meaningful dialogue on international non-proliferation, peace keeping and finally countering terrorism in South Asian and South East Asian Subcontinent plus expansion of culture of peace along with energy, digital and human connectivity on various professional and academic disciplines. Apart from the above, there are various advantages can be derived by Bangladesh along with close neighbour India. Among all the advantages associated, some of the common ones are stated as such, acceptance of challenge in the region, analysis of Chinese and American power separately, role of China is always a motivating factor to Bangladesh as per building up of road connectivity is concerned, US focuses mostly on building up of defence capabilities etc.

We should not forget that both Bangladesh and India are effectively utilising human capital. To be more elaborate in this talents in diverse professional and academic disciplines are duly exploited so as to nurture human capital in its positive trend.

As we discuss about the involvement of Bangladesh into Indo-Pacific region, we should not ignore a common hypothesis that India’s role in Indo-Pacific is not be neglected at all. As Bangladesh is located very much on Bay of Bengal, which is why the importance of the nation is dearly felt by geostrategic experts as regards the involvement of both Bangladesh and India.

In order to touch upon the reactions of Bangladesh on Indo-Pacific and its security aspect. It is indeed a long drawn proposition. Very recently more than two months, we evinced large scale political coup in Bangladesh. On account of the massive coup on August 5, Sheikh Hasina had to rush off to Indian capital New Delhi. Despite the occurrence of the coup, Bangladesh asserted her presence on Indo-Pacific security with a vicious and sharp reactions. Instead of emphasising reactions by Bangladesh subsequently security aspect. In this regard let me jot down reactions of Bangladesh.

Bangladesh is interested on Indo-Pacific along with sharp reactions. Among all the reactions by Bangladesh on Indo-Pacific issue. Some of the common ones are stated as such, Bangladesh express profound interest mainly for business and economic purposes.Bangladesh along with closer neighbour India always prefer to have proper law and order along with stability in the Indo-Pacific regime, it is through BIMSTEC, SAARC and Asean confederation always on the run to capitalise on the available resources chiefly for economic benefit, the zone had rich mineral and natural resources, Bangladesh with profound interest on Indo-Pacific so that garments can be exported to various nations of the globe etc. Bangladesh also wishes to make proper utilisation of regional connectivity, climate resilience and finally delivering proper and methodical governance so that peace and stability should be the forte of the humanity across South Asian Sub-Continent.

Now let me touch upon the security aspect of Indo-Pacific. Taking into account the Korean War of 1950-1953, the security aspect is based purely on US led system of bilateral alliances which is also known as Hub and Spokes System, it was in the year 2014, PRC (Peoples Republic of China) started developing innovative ideas to reshape regional security system, which subsequently became a relic of the Cold War which has later on being crowned as ‘regional security architecture, by the name of ‘Asians for Asians’.

Now coming to the Bangladesh’s issue on Indo-Pacific issue it is found that the said nation after prolonged hesitancy Bangladesh officially released a long plebiscite with the objective to pounce upon China so that the last named being defrayed in order to erode the dominance of the above nation from the group. Though at the present juncture we find that Bangladesh is in the midst of severe political turmoil. But I would like to reiterate that Bangladesh in the upcoming days of our life will play prolific roles along with close neighbour India. The focusing area will be on areas such, enhancement of defence preparedness, proper utilisation of available resources, and proper evaluation of the position of Bangladesh Along with that of other nations falling under South Asian and South East Asian Sub-Continents and finally new policies and strategies to be adopted for proper function of Indo-Pacific.

Summing up my above hypothesis one point will surmise upon us. That peace and calumny should be interpreted as order of the moment. But one point Bangladesh will bear in mind about the security of the Sub-Continent. However relations with closer and cordial neighbour India should not be neglected at all. This should be treated as a clarion call in the upcoming days of our life.


Sujayendra Das is a columnist
based in Kolkata, India.