India wary of China’s deepening presence in Bangladesh
An Indian parliamentary committee has voiced concern over China’s expanding strategic and economic presence in Bangladesh, urging New Delhi to deepen engagement with Dhaka while accelerating efforts to resolve outstanding border issues and safeguard India’s security interests.
The concerns were outlined in the Ninth Report of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs, titled “Action Taken by the Government on the Observations/Recommendations on the Subject ‘Future of India-Bangladesh Relationship'”, which was tabled in Parliament on Thursday.
Chaired by senior Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, the committee said India should closely monitor the activities of foreign powers in Bangladesh, warning that any attempt by “unfriendly countries” to establish a military foothold in the neighbouring country would have significant security implications for India.
The report highlighted China’s growing role in Bangladesh’s infrastructure, port development and defence cooperation, citing the $370 million expansion of Mongla Port, Chinese assistance in the development of the Lalmonirhat airbase, and the submarine base at Pekua.
While noting that Bangladesh Army officials have stated there are currently no plans to upgrade the Lalmonirhat airstrip for military use, the committee said the project’s proximity – about 15 kilometres from the Indian border – made it “a matter of concern”.
It also pointed to the Chinese-built submarine base at Pekua, saying it has the capacity to accommodate eight submarines although Bangladesh currently operates only two.
“While Bangladesh has every sovereign right to engage with countries of its choice, India must remain vigilant in protecting its strategic interests,” the committee said, referring particularly to the Bay of Bengal and the strategically vital Siliguri Corridor linking mainland India with its north-eastern states.
The report also noted China’s expanding political engagement in Bangladesh, citing the recent visit of a Jamaat-e-Islami delegation to Beijing.
At the same time, the committee called for what it described as a “robust engagement” with the government of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, saying the return of an elected administration offered an opportunity to rebuild bilateral ties and reinforce India’s position as Bangladesh’s “most reliable partner”.
It urged New Delhi to capitalise on its comparative advantage in development cooperation, noting India’s financing of the Khulna-Mongla railway project and agreements providing transit access through Chattogram and Mongla ports.
The committee also expressed concern over Bangladesh’s deepening economic ties with China, particularly its bid to join the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).
It warned that Chinese manufactured goods could potentially enter Indian markets through Bangladesh under existing regional trade arrangements and recommended stricter rules-of-origin checks to protect Indian industries.
The observations come after Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s recent visit to China, during which Beijing backed Bangladesh’s application to join RCEP and the two countries signed 13 memoranda of understanding covering trade, a proposed Chinese Economic Zone in Chattogram, Mongla Port modernisation and possible cooperation on the Teesta River.
Beyond strategic issues, the parliamentary panel urged the Indian government to complete internal consultations and begin negotiations on renewing the 1996 Ganges Water Treaty, which expires in December 2026.
The report also drew attention to the lack of progress in completing the remaining demarcation of the India-Bangladesh border, particularly in the ecologically sensitive Sundarbans.
While acknowledging that the 2015 Land Boundary Agreement had resolved one of the most complex bilateral disputes, the committee said several stretches of the international boundary remain undemarcated and criticised the absence of follow-up after the Fifth Joint Boundary Conference (JBC) held in Dhaka in November 2022.
“It is surprising that the most recent engagement cited dates back to the fifth Joint Boundary Conference held in November 2022, with no indication of any follow-up,” the report said, urging the Ministry of External Affairs to convene the next JBC at the earliest and prepare a time-bound roadmap for completing the remaining boundary demarcation.
The committee further recommended completing unfenced sections of the border, expanding the deployment of drones, thermal cameras, motion sensors and satellite-based surveillance, and strengthening coordination between India’s Border Security Force (BSF) and Bangladesh’s Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB).
It said enhanced development cooperation, regular parliamentary exchanges and broader educational and skills partnerships would be essential to maintaining a stable, democratic and mutually beneficial relationship between the neighbouring countries.
