Bangladesh’s economic geopolitics: foreign policy recalculated for survival

By Tanvir Rusmat, Dhaka, Jan 13, 2026

Bangladesh’s foreign policy is increasingly being reshaped by economic necessity rather than traditional diplomatic considerations. Prolonged global inflation, tightening financial conditions, dollar shortages, and growing external debt have significantly constrained Dhaka’s policy choices. As a result, economic survival has emerged as the dominant driver of Bangladesh’s international engagement, placing the country at a critical economic-geopolitical juncture.