Abu SufianSince taking office, Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has pursued a foreign policy his government describes as independent and focused on national interest. Critics of the previous Awami League government, led by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, had argued that Dhaka’s foreign policy tilted heavily toward India; Rahman’s administration says it is charting a more balanced course.
Rahman, the son of former President Ziaur Rahman, has maintained relationships with Bangladesh’s major export destinations — the United States, the European Union, and the United Kingdom. Some critics, including supporters of Jamaat-e-Islami, have questioned whether Rahman can match his father’s stature in navigating today’s geopolitical landscape, and some social media activists aligned with Jamaat-e-Islami have sought to portray the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) as pro-India or “anti-July.” The government rejects these characterizations, pointing to what it calls a firmly independent foreign policy.
Balancing Competing Relationships
Bangladesh currently maintains active engagements with the United States, the EU, China, Russia, India, and Turkey — each involving distinct agreements and areas of cooperation. Some of these arrangements were concluded under the interim government that preceded Rahman’s administration; others date to the previous Awami League government. According to the Prime Minister’s Office, all these partners have responded positively to Rahman’s approach.
Bangladesh’s relationships with the U.S., China, and Russia touch on differing — and at times potentially competing — interests: economic dependence on U.S. export markets, a “shared future” framework with China, and energy cooperation with Russia. So far, the U.S. has not publicly objected to Bangladesh’s memorandum of understanding with China, nor has China raised concerns over trade or military cooperation between Bangladesh and Washington.
The Government’s Position
The Prime Minister’s Office frames Rahman’s mandate as central to his foreign policy legitimacy. On July 4, PMO spokesperson Mahdi Amin told Bangladeshi media that Rahman’s six-day visit to Malaysia and China reflected his standing as an elected leader chosen directly by voters — a contrast, he suggested, with the unelected interim government that preceded him.
The day before that trip, the U.S. ambassador, British High Commissioner, and the Japanese and Swedish ambassadors met with Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman in Dhaka. Following the meeting, the American and British envoys expressed support for Bangladesh, though neither specifically addressed the prime minister’s upcoming visit.
Foreign affairs adviser Humayun Kabir told reporters that Bangladesh’s travel decisions are made independently, according to national interest rather than external pressure, and that a visit to India would follow “when the temperature comes down” — signaling that ties with New Delhi remain a work in progress rather than an immediate priority.
Regional Ambitions
South Asia and Southeast Asia face ongoing political and economic instability, notably in India, Pakistan, Nepal, and Myanmar. Bangladesh’s relative domestic stability and its economic ties with China have prompted some analysts to suggest the country could reassert a regional leadership role reminiscent of its historical position — Rahman’s father, Ziaur Rahman, was an early architect of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).
Michael Kugelman, a South Asia analyst, offered a measured assessment: he suggested Rahman’s near-term priorities are likely domestic — economic stabilization and energy security, particularly given instability in the Middle East — before any broader regional push. He noted that BNP has historically supported regional integration and that Rahman appears interested in strengthening ties with neighboring countries, though this is not yet the government’s immediate focus.
An Open Question: Defense Cooperation
Saudi Arabia, Turkeye and Pakistan had signed a defense agreement, with Malaysia reportedly considering participation. Pakistan had earlier invited Bangladesh to join this framework, an offer first discussed under the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus — a proposal some officials considered too consequential for a non-elected administration to act on.
With an elected government now in place, officials suggest Dhaka may be more willing to take on such commitments. On July 6, foreign affairs adviser Humayun Kabir told journalists that Rahman’s Saudi Arabia trip is soon at the invitation of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Whether defense cooperation will be discussed during that visit remains unconfirmed and awaits an official statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
