China-Bangladesh Relation: a Quest for Bangladesh’s Integrating into Sino-Myanmar Connectivity

Abstract

This paper attempts to investigate the necessity of improved China-Bangladesh relation tointegrating into Sino-Myanmar connectivity following qualitative research methodology andsecondary literature. To realise Bangladesh's economic dream and attain its geostrategicpriority, she needs to extend her connectivity with the Southeast and East Asian countries.Though Bangladesh maintains excellent relationships with her giant neighbour India, it isconjectured that sole reliance of Bangladesh over India is perhaps not enough to fulfil her vision.However, to reach out to the east, she needs to fortify her relationship with her other neighbourMyanmar as the gateway. A sustained and stable relation with Myanmar opens the scope forBangladesh to tread into Sino-Myanmar connectivity, which will eventually assist Bangladesh toattain her dream. Here comes the role of China, which traditionally has a time-tested bond withMyanmar. Bangladesh has a deep-rooted historical tie with China which leaves room forBangladesh to exploit in the fields of economy, foreign policy, energy security and geostrategicissues. Bangladesh has much to gain from China by integrating herself into a good number ofChina-led regional initiatives. Good relation with China is essential for Bangladesh to integrateinto Sino-Myanmar connectivity, which is vital to realise her dream. However, while Bangladeshneeds to make India believe that whatever relations she is fostering with China is only for hereconomic progress, not for challenging India’s hegemony.