In this analysis, Ambassador Serajul Islam examines the powerful role that India’s foreign policy and its unwavering support for Bangladesh's Awami League have played in shaping the outcomes of the January 7 election. Highlighting the UN’s principles on the security of small states, he explores how India’s strategic interests and influence on the US, EU, and UN have impacted democratic processes in Bangladesh, pushing the country closer to single-party rule. Ambassador Islam discusses the growing anti-India sentiment in Bangladesh, the rising "Boycott India" movement, and China’s quiet gains in the region. This piece offers a comprehensive look at the election’s role in reshaping Bangladesh’s foreign policy and its alliance with powerful neighbors.

In "So Close to India," Ambassador Islam delves into the deepening complexities of Bangladesh-India relations, especially in light of recent events that have stirred national sentiments. Following Bangladesh’s January 7 election, India's influence over Bangladesh has intensified, yet its one-sided support for the ruling party risks alienating much of the Bangladeshi public and solidifying anti-Indian sentiments. The narrative explores India’s continued "all eggs in the AL basket" foreign policy, which prioritizes political interests over fostering broader, democratic relationships. With China’s growing influence in Bangladesh, India faces strategic dilemmas that could reshape South Asia’s balance of power.

This article analyzes how the January 7, 2024 election in Bangladesh marked a significant shift in regional power dynamics, with China gaining influence over the US and India. Ambassador Serajul Islam examines how this diplomatic victory for China impacts Bangladesh's strategic positioning and Indo-Pacific security.

This analysis delves into the recent Bangladesh election, highlighting China’s and India’s contrasting responses and their broader implications. China, seizing a growing role, views the election as a step forward in Bangladesh’s democratic journey, while India labels it a strictly internal matter. The piece explores how these stances reveal shifting priorities in South Asia, with China gaining strategic influence in Bangladesh, including in critical projects near India’s borders. As Bangladesh balances between these powerful neighbors, the election’s impact on regional security and economic stability comes sharply into focus.

THE facts about the January 7 political event that the Election Commission is calling the 12th general election are getting, as the cliché goes, stranger than fiction. Even fiction writers will find that they are not in the same league as the commission and the ruling party that are co-authoring the tale of the next general election with less than two weeks left for the event.