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.

Here is how countries in South Asia - India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka are preparing for a medium to long term crisis replicating recent disruptions such as COVID 19 as of March 22.

Ministry of External Affairs in the parliament outlines perspectives on India's Neighbourhood First Policy covering measuress to strengthen India's strategic position with concerted support to countries in the region and managing China's expanding influence in the Indian Ocean Region. Have a look-