THE TUG OF SEA

With a rapidly booming economy and increasing clout, Bangladesh is indicating that it wishes to be a part of the bigger game of maritime diplomacy - and this time around, it is positioning itself increasingly within the China-Pakistan camp, of which India grew uncomfortable. The consequences were quick. India, traditionally the senior partner in IndoBangla ties, revoked a precious transshipment privilege it had granted Bangladesh via Indian ports, essentially strangling a critical logistics pipeline. This was accompanied by a subdued but firm imposition of trade barriers on more than $770 million worth of Bangladeshi imports, further tightening the economic noose. In turn, Dhaka struck where it symbolically hurt - calling off a ₹179 crore contract for a naval tugboat with India's GRSE shipyard, with less economic but greater political symbolism.