Various geo-political complications leave Bangladesh in hot water in some countriess parochial interests. Investment-seeking Bangladeshs economy is hungry for local and international finance for its infrastructure development. Thats why Bangladesh faces different sorts of geo-political complications.
Many countries of the world are constantly advancing towards developments in various sectors with the help of their technological power. But there are rivalries like one between the USA and China. Needless to say, the least developed countries are suffering or paying the price because of their tendency to surpass each other in terms of leadership in the global system.
The USA, the largest economy in the world with a GDP of $26,854 billion, wants to maintain its hegemony in the global system. On the other hand, China,the second-largest economy in the world with a GDP of $19,374 billion,according to IMF data, wants to emerge as a superpower in the global system. Thats why Bangladesh has to pay the price in various sectors, thanks to this sort of antagonistic relationship between the two giants.
Bangladesh, one of the poorest nations at birth in 1971, is on its way to graduate from the UNs Least Developed Countries (LDC) list in 2026. Although there is no way to deny that Bangladesh is still lagging behind in many areas such as skills, the labor market, the financial system, and business dynamism, as well as incessant corruption, According to experts,on the eve of the BRICS summit, Bangladesh didn take any significant steps diplomatically when it came to joining the BRICS.
One of the reasons for Bangladesh not getting membership in the BRICS could also be the rivalry between China and India. Probably China thought that Bangladesh would lean completely towards India, and so did India. Massive hope about the repatriation of Rohingya refugees perked up the Bangladeshi people from all walks of life with the mediation of China, but that too could not bring any pragmatic results. The United States has provided $1.61 billion in aid to the Rohingya refugees from 2017 to 2023, when it comes to funding on humanitarian grounds, with other regional powers like Russia, India, and even China showing little interest in providing funds.
Due to fund shortages, the risks of Rohingya radicalization are rising. From 2018 to 2022, the three main sources of arms purchased by Myanmar are Russia, China, and India, with Russia holding 49%, China holding 29%, and India holding 14%. And thats why they are reluctant over solving the problem of Rohingya repatriation. It goes without saying that they maintain a lackluster attitude when it comes to the repatriation of Rohingya refugees to their homeland with dignity because of their arms trade. Despite Bangladeshs close ties with China, Russia, and India, the repatriation of Rohingya people-the biggest influx of Rohingyas from Myanmars Rakhine State in August 2017-there have been three attempts to repatriate Rohingyas: once in 2018, once in 2019, and most recently in 2023-is now getting out of reach because conflict flares up in Myanmar between the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army.
If the authorities in Bangladesh do not take appropriate measures, this problem will not be solved. Ad hoc measures won pave the way for a resolution to the Rohingya repatriation. Not like this anymore, it is high time to solve the problem diplomatically. We should delve into the matter of how to reach a conclusion over the issue of Rohingya repatriation with a happy ending, as well as strongly engage the international community, especially China and India, to ensure that Myanmar does everything for Rohingya repatriation.
The writer is a 4th year student( Management), National University
