Mushfiqur Rahman Emon: Bangladesh is a South Asian country. From the very beginning of its creation, the journey as a new country was thorny and dangerous in many ways. Almost everything in the war-torn country`s economy and physical infrastructure was destroyed. As a result, Bangladesh continues to work to meet the difficult challenge of rebuilding a war-torn country. Then gradually Bangladesh began to see the golden face of development. Today, Bangladesh has established itself as an important state in South Asia in the economic and geopolitical context as a result of increasing development and progress in various areas. 

The geopolitics of South Asia are changing dramatically in recent times. Asia`s two nuclear-armed neighbours, India and China, have been playing a game of influence in South Asia. Both these countries are constantly working to maintain their dominance in geopolitics by bringing the countries of South Asia under their control. Vaccine diplomacy has been added to the race to dominate in this critical time of the Corona epidemic. India has provided millions of doses of the Covid-19 vaccine to several South Asian countries, including Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Afghanistan and the Maldives, as part of its co-operation against corona. Besides this vaccine diplomacy, India has initiated various initiatives to expand its influence in South Asian countries. India is constantly trying to dominate by signing trade, defence, cooperation and strategic agreements with South Asian countries. India makes good use of its geographical location to dominate the geopolitics of South Asia.

On the other hand, China, one of the economic and military powers of Asia, has already emerged as a major player in South Asian geopolitics. China, however, is not a South Asian country like India. But China`s interest in South Asian geopolitics is growing. In South Asia, China wants to rein in India`s hegemony. In nearly all South Asian countries, China contributes to the development of countries through economic assistance and investment. China`s economic strength has enabled it to establish warm relations with almost every country in South Asia, except India. At the same time, five South Asian countries are planning to build an emergency-based vaccine platform with Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka to address the covid crisis. Due to the precarious situation in India, India has not been able to supply vaccines to any country. As a result, India is now far behind in this competition for vaccine diplomacy. China is taking action to take advantage of this opportunity. Both countries want to influence South Asia in any way and both countries see themselves as adversaries, which increasingly complicates South Asian geopolitics.

In addition to the Sino-Indian conflict, the Quad has become another important factor in the geopolitics of South Asia. Although the main objective of the Quad, comprising the United States, Japan, Australia and India, is to make the Indo-Pacific region more effective in the international arena, China sees it as a threat to its sovereignty, independence, security, free trade and maritime cooperation. According to international relations analysts, the reason for China`s concern about the Quad is the recent efforts of the United States to expand the Quad to the Quad plus. China fears that the United States may put pressure on Bangladesh to join the Quad through India. If Bangladesh joins the Quad in the face of that pressure, it could be a big headache for China. Meanwhile, the Chinese ambassador has also expressed concern over the issue. As a result, Bangladesh has faced diplomatic challenges in this situation.

South Asia is very important for the Quad because of its geographical location. Because, the success of the quad will depend a lot on how much influence it can have in South Asia. So the main goal of the Quad is to reduce China`s influence in South Asia. On the other hand, China will also take all measures to curb the influence of the Quad. In such a complex geopolitical context, an important question is what will be the position of Bangladesh as an important country in the geopolitics of South Asia.

Bangladesh`s foreign policy is peaceful. Bangladesh`s undisputed leader Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman`s foreign policy vision of "Friendship to all, malice to none" is still the mainstay of the country`s foreign policy. After the Second World War, when the political world became divided into capitalist and socialist, the newly independent Bangladesh joined the Nonaligned Movement in 1973 on the basis of the principle of neutrality. Bangladesh has always wanted to maintain a neutral position in order to maintain good relations with all countries. In order to maintain this neutral position, Bangladesh does not support any single state, nor does it support or join any military or political alliance. On the contrary, Bangladesh has always called on both sides to resolve the crisis. And the state interest can be protected by maintaining good relations with all countries. That`s why Bangladesh has not formed a negative relationship with any country.

Bangladesh is passing fifty years of independence. Although it is not too old for a country, in this short time Bangladesh has been able to create an acceptable position to the whole world. In recent times, the growing importance of Bangladesh in the international world is clearly visible. Bangladesh is now being considered as an example of emerging economy in Asia on the map of the world economy. In the course of time, today the big powers are competing to increase the closeness with Bangladesh. One of the main reasons for their attraction to Bangladesh is the country`s geopolitical position and increased economic potential. Every influential country in South Asian geopolitics now wants Bangladesh by its side.

Bangladesh has so far tackled geopolitical challenges with considerable efficiency. And to continue this trend in the future, it is necessary to maintain a warm relationship with all the influential countries in South Asia. In addition to this, to remain in a neutral position without going for or against any particular country or alliance. And if Bangladesh can maintain this trend in foreign policy, it will be beneficial for the country as well as the economy as a whole. Thus, as a result of neutral policy, the acceptance and importance of Bangladesh to the countries will increase. Therefore, a balanced foreign policy should be the diplomatic position of Bangladesh in the geopolitics of South Asia.

Author: The writer is a columnist, debater and student of Department of History, University of Chittagong.