China Set to Widen Footprint in Bangladesh as India’s Ties Decline

A rickshaw passes by an election campaign banner of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) candidate Bobby Hajjaj, ahead of the national election, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, February 9, 2026. REUTERS/Mohammad Ponir Hossain

By Tora Agarwala

China’s influence in Bangladesh, boosted by the 2024 ouster of New Delhi‑aligned leader Sheikh Hasina, is likely to deepen after this week’s election, although politicians and analysts say India is too large a neighbor to be sidelined completely.

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