Six months of the BNP government under Prime Minister Tarique Rehman continues to be seen as a honeymoon period though surveys portray a decline in public support. Meeting diverse challenges that Bangladesh faces from diplomacy to internal security and economy, muddling through is not an option.

Col R Hariharan in Sri Lanka Strategic Perspectives, August 2026 touches upon the sensitive issue of enforced disappearances and the callousness with which Colombo has handled the cases despite the large numbers involved. Not just Sri Lanka enforced disappearances are a critical rights issue in South Asia

Bangladesh is expected to face major challenges in managing foreign policy due to a mix of factors - inexperience of the top leadership including Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on issues of international and interstate relations, tensions with India with the extradition of Sheikh Hasina becoming a lodestone for practical engagement apart from the kerfuffle over visit of Prime Minister Rahman to Delhi, flawed priorities of engagement with diverse self-seeking players as Turkey

The challenge for South Asian countries is to make democracy work in the true sense – autonomous institutions from the legislature to the judiciary and the election commission, a free media, accountability, elimination of corruption and de-elitism.

While as a sovereign state, Bangladesh has the right to make alignments, how the regional and geostrategic space now shapes up for Dhaka after the Chinese tilt remains to be seen.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s visit to China from June 24 to 26 has drawn significant attention as Bangladesh joined the Global Development Initiative (GDI) and the agreement to strengthen cooperation on the Teesta and other river management projects. From India’s perspective, this is likely to be debated because Teesta River waters remains a sensitive issue in India-Bangladesh relations.

After a promising start following the Bangladesh Nationalist Party [BNP] government's assumption of office under Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, India-Bangladesh relations are likely to face challenges as new differences are cropping up.

Nishqa Devadiga reviews the UNDP report that maps the channels through which a geopolitical shock far from the region mainly war in the Middle East since February 2026 is quietly eroding livelihood, food security, employment and public budgets across one of the world's most economically diverse regions.

Beyond wars, militancy, terrorism, drug and people running, law and order, illegal migration, maritime crime and so on, climate change will remain the most persistent and long term challenge for South Asia, here is a perspective.

To sustain momentum of initial breakthrough in ties after BNP assumed the mantle of power in Bangladesh, governments in Dhaka and Delhi need to patiently nurture ties and stay the course, overcome the burden of legacy as well as spoilers who will seek every opportunity to muddy the waters.