00:00Bangladesh's election is drawing regional and international attention with implications that extend well beyond its borders.
00:07For more on why this vote matters beyond the nation's borders, we have Maziah Barik Meji with us in the
00:13studio.
00:14Maziah, this election comes after a major political shift in Bangladesh. Can you walk us through that landscape?
00:21Right, so this vote follows the 2024 ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who ruled for 15 years.
00:28She was seen as closely aligned with India. However, she is now in exile in New Delhi and her party,
00:36the Awami League, is banned from contesting.
00:39So her exit paved the way for two main frontrunners and the first one is the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and
00:48the Islamist Jama'i-Islami Party,
00:51both of which historically had much cooler ties with India.
00:55And then how does that shift impact regional powers like India and China per se?
01:00Right, so the result could reshape South Asian geopolitics.
01:05India has long seen Bangladesh as a key ally given their shared border and strategic transit routes.
01:12But since Hasina fled to India, New Delhi's influence has weakened, while China's engagement has expanded,
01:20including a defence deal to build a drone factory near Bangladesh's border, while also continuing billion-dollar infrastructure projects.
01:29And so does this mean Bangladesh is pivoting fully towards Beijing.
01:35Right, so China has been Bangladesh's largest trading partner for over a decade, with annual trade around 18 billion US
01:44dollars.
01:45But Bangladesh is bordered by India on three sides and relies on it for trade, transit and security.
01:52And analysts say that the next government will likely deepen economic ties with China, but it will not sideline India
02:02completely.
02:03And Amir, the reality is Bangladesh needs both powers.
02:07And leaders understand that ignoring such a key neighbour would be imprudent.
02:12In fact, the person seen as the Prime Minister frontrunner, Tariq Rahman, has struck a conciliatory note,
02:20telling Reuters last week that they will try to have friendship with all countries.
02:24But of course, protecting the interests of Bangladesh will be the priority.
02:29Thank you, Mazia.
02:31We're surely watching Bangladesh's election closely as its impact unfolds across the region.
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