Sheikh Hasina’s deepening ties with China and her strained relations with the West are seen as key factors behind her political downfall in Bangladesh. Despite efforts by India’s Narendra Modi government to reconcile her with the US and UK, Hasina’s pro-China leanings, including allowing Beijing to build a submarine base in Cox’s Bazaar and purchasing Chinese military equipment, raised alarms in New Delhi and Washington.
Bangladesh’s military, heavily equipped by China, posed a challenge to the Indo-Pacific strategy of the QUAD alliance. Hasina’s tilt towards Beijing, coupled with her strained relations with the US, which disapproved of her China-backed military policies, ultimately contributed to her ousting. The final straw was the revelation that her own bureaucracy had approved a docking request for a Chinese-built Pakistani frigate without her knowledge, a move thwarted only after India intervened.
With Hasina out of power, Bangladesh faces an economic crisis, political unrest, and the rise of Islamist forces. The newly installed interim government, led by Muhammad Yunus, must navigate these challenges, as Bangladesh teeters on the brink of economic collapse, similar to Sri Lanka and Pakistan. Despite Hasina’s exit being seen as a diplomatic setback for India, Dhaka’s reliance on New Delhi’s support remains critical as the nation confronts its uncertain future.
