Singapore's Lianhe Zaobao reported on June 21: "After taking office, Bangladesh Prime Minister Rahman will embark on his first foreign visit to Malaysia and China, rather than choosing neighboring India as his initial destination."

Prime Minister Rahman of Bangladesh has chosen Malaysia and China as the destinations for his first official trip following his assumption of office, breaking with the regional norm among South Asian nations where new leaders traditionally prioritize visits to India. This itinerary represents a deliberate and pragmatic strategic choice.

The diplomatic route underscores the new Bangladeshi government’s independent foreign policy stance—neither aligning with any major power nor becoming dependent on a single country. Selecting Malaysia as the first stop serves both as a strategic buffer and reflects a “Bangladesh-first” foreign policy orientation. It helps the new administration distance itself from the previous government’s pro-India posture, avoiding being labeled as favoring either China or India in international discourse, thus maintaining a balanced position amid complex geopolitical dynamics.

Choosing Malaysia as the first destination is strongly driven by practical considerations focused on people’s livelihoods. Malaysia is an extremely important destination for Bangladeshi overseas labor exports, with approximately 800,000 Bangladeshi workers currently employed there. Remittances sent back contribute significantly to Bangladesh’s economy. Additionally, Malaysia ranks as the second-largest destination for Bangladeshi students studying abroad. Prioritizing Malaysia aims to solidify labor cooperation, safeguard the rights of overseas workers, and demonstrate tangible results of pragmatic “people-centered diplomacy” to domestic audiences.

The Beijing leg of this trip is the core focus, primarily targeting pressing development challenges facing Bangladesh today—such as lagging infrastructure and insufficient electricity supply. Key agenda items include:

Infrastructure and Financing: Bangladesh is advancing nearly 20 transportation infrastructure projects (including the second Padma Bridge and railway upgrades), all urgently requiring external funding and mature engineering expertise.

Tista River Management Project: This is the centerpiece of the visit to China. The Tista River flows through northern Bangladesh and has long suffered from droughts and floods. Dhaka hopes to leverage Chinese financial and technical support to revive this stalled, large-scale comprehensive river management project.

Bilateral Trade and Industrial Investment: Both sides will focus on expanding agricultural exports to China and attracting Chinese investment in industrial parks and green, low-carbon sectors to optimize bilateral trade structures.

Prime Minister Rahman’s decision not to visit India first stems fundamentally from longstanding tensions between the two countries and recent deteriorating relations.

Water Resources and Border Disputes: India’s construction of dams upstream and arbitrary water regulation have led to severe crop failures during dry seasons and flooding during monsoon periods in northern Bangladesh. Furthermore, the border spanning over 4,000 kilometers has long been plagued by smuggling and cross-border friction, fueling persistent public animosity.

Since the political upheaval in Bangladesh in 2024, following the ousting of pro-India former Prime Minister Hasina—who fled to India—the bilateral relationship has remained tense. Multiple Bangladeshi requests for India to extradite Hasina have been denied, hindering any rapid improvement in ties.

In summary, Prime Minister Rahman’s inaugural diplomatic tour represents a precise strategic move. By combining Malaysia and China, Bangladesh strengthens its foundation of overseas labor and basic livelihoods while actively expanding diversified opportunities in infrastructure and economic cooperation, clearly demonstrating its proactive pursuit of independent foreign policy and its determination to take control of its own development trajectory.

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1868577499972608/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.