Following the installation of the Rahman-led BNP government, Dhaka tones down its rhetoric toward India, moving away from earlier confrontational tones. Bilateral relations have cooled significantly over the last 18 months amid a rocky political shift in Bangladesh, raising doubts about the sustainability of the once-celebrated “Golden Chapter.” Anti-India remarks and policy moves during the Yunus era contributed to delays in defense collaborations, including the suspension of the annual Exercise SAMPRITI after 2023 and the quiet cancellation of a major procurement agreement in mid-2025.
Naval Operations Proceed Uninterrupted
In contrast, naval forces from both nations maintain seamless coordination in the Bay of Bengal. Exercises Bongosagar 2025 and the India-Bangladesh Coordinated Patrol (CORPAT) occur on schedule with minimal publicity. The navies execute advanced drills, including tactical maneuvers, communication exercises, and Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure (VBSS) operations.
Sustained Training Partnerships
India serves as a key hub for Bangladeshi naval training through the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) program. Records indicate 39 slots allocated to Bangladesh in 2023–24, with 37 utilized, rising to 42 slots in 2024–25, where 34 officers participated. From 2016–17 to 2024–25, 491 Bangladeshi personnel complete training in India, demonstrating consistent maritime capacity enhancement even through the 2024–25 political upheaval, as officers train alongside Indian peers.
Strategic Value for Both Nations
This enduring collaboration validates India’s SAGAR initiative—Security and Growth for All in the Region—positioning the country as the top security ally for neighbors via skill-building over equipment sales. For Bangladesh, partnering with India’s advanced blue-water navy proves essential amid intensifying great-power rivalries in the Bay of Bengal, prioritizing operational readiness over political rhetoric.
As 2026 progresses, broader India-Bangladesh ties face ongoing challenges and measured diplomacy. Naval engagements, however, provide vital stability, anchoring both countries amid regional uncertainties.
