Beginning of Tarik era in Bangladesh, China laid the red carpet as soon as it became PM, what does it mean for India?

News India Live, Digital Desk: A new chapter has begun in Bangladesh politics. With BNP leader Tariq Rehman moving towards the post of Prime Minister, China has increased its activism. Beijing has not only congratulated Tariq Rehman but also promised to take the “strategic partnership” between the two countries to new heights.

China’s ‘magnetic’ diplomacy

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said in an official statement that China and Bangladesh have been “all-time friends”. China has clearly indicated that it is ready to accelerate infrastructure projects under the ‘Belt and Road Initiative’ (BRI) with Tariq Rehman’s government.

Experts believe that China is trying to fill the vacuum created after Sheikh Hasina’s departure. Beijing knows that Bangladesh is an important pawn to maintain its presence in South Asia.

Tariq Rehman’s stance and challenges

The path to power is not easy for Tariq Rehman after living in exile for a long time. There are many big challenges before him:

Handling the Economy: Bangladesh is currently struggling with inflation and declining foreign exchange reserves. In such a situation, the financial help from China can prove to be a lifesaver for them.

Balance with India: The history of the BNP has traditionally not been very soft towards India. Now it remains to be seen whether Tariq Rehman moves closer to China or maintains the policy of “Neighborhood First” with India.

An ‘alarm bell’ for India?

This activism of China has increased the commotion in the corridors of New Delhi. The matter of concern for India is that if Bangladesh completely gets trapped in China’s economic debt trap, it could become a threat to the security of the northeastern states and India’s dominance in the Bay of Bengal.