Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus departed for a four-day state visit to China on Wednesday (26 March), marking his first bilateral trip as government leader.
However, the journey is overshadowed by an unfulfilled aspiration to visit India beforehand, which has gone unacknowledged by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government.
According to Shafiqul Alam, the chief adviser's press secretary, Dr Yunus had expressed keen interest in a preliminary visit to India.
Speaking to The Hindu, Alam revealed that despite multiple overtures, no response was forthcoming from the Indian side.
During his China visit, Dr Yunus is scheduled to meet President Xi Jinping, with a primary objective of positioning Bangladesh as an attractive investment destination, particularly in the manufacturing sector.
The interim government hopes to leverage China's economic prowess to stimulate Bangladesh's economic growth.
"We expressed interest in a bilateral visit to India in December," Shafiqul Alam stated.
"Unfortunately, we received no response from the Indian authorities. Our diplomatic channels were activated weeks before finalising the China visit, but to no avail."
Following his China engagement, Dr Yunus will travel to Bangkok to participate in the BIMSTEC summit on 3-4 April, during which he had also hoped to secure a meeting with Prime Minister Modi.
The press secretary emphasised Bangladesh's diplomatic strategy, noting, "Many nations are cautious about Chinese investment. Bangladesh is prepared to welcome Chinese investors and create an investment-friendly environment."
This diplomatic manoeuvre follows a significant interaction at the UN General Assembly last September, where Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi described Dr Yunus as an "old friend of China". During that meeting, Yunus proposed solar panel production initiatives for Bangladesh.
In a recent address to the nation, Dr Yunus articulated his vision of transforming Bangladesh into South Asia's "growth engine", highlighting the country's strategic geographical position and potential economic synergies with neighbouring countries.
The unfolding diplomatic narrative reflects the nuanced geopolitical landscape of South Asia, where economic opportunities and strategic relationships are constantly being negotiated and reimagined.
