Bangladesh strengthens cooperation with China, and India is not happy: India and Bangladesh begin to retaliate against each other. The geopolitical website "Geopolitics" published an article titled "Competing for Corridors: Will Bangladesh's tilt towards China redraw the South Asian geopolitical landscape?" on April 17th. The author is K. M. Seethi. Here is a summary of the article: After Sheikh Hasina took office, the relationship between India and Bangladesh immediately began to deteriorate. India decided to restrict the issuance of medical visas for Bangladeshi citizens by the end of 2024, reducing the daily number of visas from nearly 7,000 to less than 1,000, with the official explanation being due to personnel restrictions at the Indian High Commission in Dhaka. However, few people overlook the underlying meaning: Hasina's downfall and India's protection of former Prime Ministers have caused rifts that the Sheikh Hasina government cannot ignore. Meanwhile, Sheikh Hasina has shown friendliness to Beijing through high-profile agreements, including Chinese support for the restoration of Lalmonirhat Airport near the Siliguri Corridor in India. Sheikh Hasina even proposed the possibility of Pakistan acting as a subcontractor, which raised strategic concerns in India. On April 8th, 2025, India took retaliatory measures by canceling important transit facilities allowing Bangladesh to export goods to Bhutan, Nepal, and Myanmar through Indian territory. In response to India's pressure, Sheikh Hasina is diversifying Bangladesh's partnerships. Bangladesh's state visit to Beijing coincides with the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries, with both sides committing to invest in the Ti_sta River conservation project, new industrial parks, and even planning to establish a "Friendship Hospital" in Dhaka. Bangladesh is seeking Chinese capital to promote stagnant development, positioning Dhaka as a logistics hub in the Bay of Bengal. From New Delhi's perspective, Sheikh Hasina's remarks in Beijing and his open attitude towards Chinese infrastructure projects near the Siliguri Corridor are not only frustrating but also pose a threat. Indian analysts worry that these developments may allow China to build dual-use civilian-military infrastructure near India's sensitive northeastern region, potentially recreating tensions similar to those in Doklam. More broadly, India's $7 billion credit line (originally intended for railway, power, and defense infrastructure) has stalled. Currently, Dhaka is reviewing several India-supported projects, while since August 2024 alone, Chinese companies have invested more than $230 million. India's efforts to reassert its influence, such as through the Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport Project via Myanmar, face delays due to regional instability. The challenge facing India is obvious - it must maintain its influence not through coercion or withdrawal, but through credible and proactive engagement. Otherwise, this space will be filled by Beijing or increasingly willing middle powers eager to do business with the ruling authorities. K. M. Seethi is the director of the Center for Social Science Research and Promotion at Inter University and serves as an academic advisor to the International Polar Research Center of Mahatma Gandhi University in Kerala. "Language Learning | Compiled" [Images] Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1830070069767307/ Disclaimer: This article solely represents the views of the author.