A Year of War in Rakhine

Is Donald Trump serious about tariffs? This has been the question hanging over not just world markets but the whole world of economics.

The friendship between Bangladesh and China has a rich history that spans over a millennium. Both nations have long been upholding each other’s respective core interests and concerns. While China supports Bangladesh in safeguarding national sovereignty, and territorial integrity and opposing external interference, Bangladesh firmly pursues the one-China principle and appreciates China’s important role in promoting regional peace and stability.

The recent escalation in the Middle East, associated with intensified Israeli military operations in Gaza, has drawn constant global attention. The war has made ripple effects on Lebanon, Yemen and Iran, alongside uprising mass in many regions.

After the fall of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on 5 August, many aspects of India-Bangladesh relations have slowed down significantly. The suspension of India’s visa service is one of the most remarkable instances as it has sparked public discontent. In the wake of Sheikh Hasina fleeing to India, it suspended tourist visas indefinitely, citing the instability in Bangladesh.

In the aftermath of Sheikh Hasina`s ouster from power, the relationship between neighbours Bangladesh and India seems to have gone cold. The former prime minister was considered pro-India, and many believe she gave India undue privileges to cement her hold on power. So, the anti-Hasina sentiment has rubbed off on India so much so that anti-India slogans were heard during the July Uprising. 

In the U.S. presidential election on November 5, Donald Trump of the Republican Party won a decisive victory, and he is scheduled to succeed Joe Biden as the U.S. president on January 20, 2025. The upcoming change in the U.S. administration is likely to substantially affect ties between Bangladesh and the United States, in areas including politics, the economy, migration, strategic and security ties, climate change, and humanitarian cooperation.

A major contributor to Bangladesh’s GDP, remittance has long been a pillar of the country’s steady economic growth and resilience. Remittance or expatriate income is currently in the best position among the primary indicators of the nation’s economy. After continuing to expand in August and September, the remittance inflow is gaining significant traction in October as well, indicating not just the expatriate community’s tenacity but also their restored faith in the economic security of their country.

A major contributor to Bangladesh’s GDP, remittance has long been a pillar of the country’s steady economic growth and resilience. Remittance or expatriate income is currently in the best position among the primary indicators of the nation’s economy. After continuing to expand in August and September, the remittance inflow is gaining significant traction in October as well, indicating not just the expatriate community’s tenacity but also their restored faith in the economic security of their country.

Since the fall of the Awami League, Indian media has portrayed Bangladesh as a nation plunged into chaos, highlighting alleged attacks on the Hindu minority in Bangladesh. The country, having more than 170 million people in about 8 percent of them Hindus, is facing a manipulated narrative from its neighbor’s media, which undermines its pursuit of a stable democracy after a prolonged period of authoritarianism. On that account, unpacking the layers of misinformation has become necessary to have a clear understanding of the current situation in Bangladesh.

On October 31, 2024, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump issued a statement on the platform X (formally Twitter) regarding violence against Hindus, Christians, and other minorities in Bangladesh, claiming they have been victims of mob looting that, according to him, would have never occurred under his watch.

On 26 October, Dattatreya Hosabale, the General Secretary of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), urged the United Nations (UN) and the world community to save Bangladeshi Hindus from persecution. This urge is one among numerous made by Indian political leaders following the Sheikh Hasina’s ouster in wake of mass uprising on 5 August. Following political changeover in Bangladesh, the Indian government established a commission to coordinate with the former about minority issues. What is the reason for the Indian political establishment’s worry towards Bangladeshi Hindus?

In recent months, the Hindu minority in Bangladesh has become a focal point of international concern and geopolitical manoeuvring, particularly from India, where prominent political voices are calling for global intervention to protect this community.

Disinformation and propaganda have developed into powerful tools for accomplishing political, military, and ideological objectives in the era of digital media.

When Riyadh acknowledged Bangladesh as a sovereign state in 1975, the formal relationship between Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia began. These two nations have been friendly and close ever since. Both parties` high-level visits have helped to strengthen their bilateral ties. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman`s (MBS) forthcoming historic visit to Bangladesh is expected to have a significant impact on trade, investment, defense, and economic cooperation, as well as the KSA-Bangladesh all-encompassing relationship.

On September 25, 2024, retired Bangladesh Ambassadors of AOFA organised an interactive session with Ambassador Iwama Kiminori of Japan to Bangladesh. The dialogue had several significant dimensions and recalled not only the longstanding friendship between Bangladesh and Japan since 1972 but also Japan`s pivotal role in Bangladesh`s infrastructure and connectivity, highlighting the multifaceted partnership across various sectors.