Bangladesh Stresses Balanced Relations with India, China as US Envoy Visits

Bangladesh’s foreign affairs adviser, Dr. Khalilur Rahman, said the country's growing ties with India and China are not a zero‑sum competition, rejecting the notion that strengthening one relationship weakens another. He used a "wife and co‑wife" analogy to explain that Bangladesh pursues its national interests with each power independently.

The remarks came during a three‑day visit by U.S. Special Envoy Sergio Gor, who arrived to discuss Bangladesh’s strategic priorities. At the same time, a report highlighted recent diplomatic outreach between New Delhi and Dhaka, noting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s congratulations to Bangladeshi Prime Minister Tarique Rahman after the general election and an invitation to attend the upcoming BRICS summit in New Delhi. The report described the moment as a chance for India‑Bangladesh ties to be reset despite ongoing issues such as water sharing and border management.