In the shadow of Bangladesh’s hard-won independence, a new battle is unfolding—not on the fields of 1971, but in the boardrooms of foreign capitals. Recent developments, including a Tk608 crore deal with China to establish a military drone manufacturing plant, underscore a troubling reality: superpowers and regional players are treating Bangladesh as a pawn in their grand strategic games. This interference, cloaked in the guise of “partnerships” and “aid,” is eroding our nation’s sovereignty and jeopardising the independence for which millions sacrificed their lives. It is high time we condemn these machinations and demand that Bangladesh chart its own course, free from external puppeteers.
Consider the China deal, approved by the Finance Ministry on January 6, 2026, just days ago. Under the banner of enhancing air defense capabilities, Bangladesh is set to import technology from the state-owned China Electronics Technology Group Corporation (CETC) International. The project, valued at Tk608.08 crore, promises domestic drone production and maintenance, reducing reliance on imports—or so the narrative goes. But peel back the layers, and it’s clear this is part of China’s broader Belt and Road Initiative playbook, aimed at expanding influence in South Asia.
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CETC, a defense electronics giant with products in over 110 countries, isn’t just selling tech; it’s embedding itself in our military infrastructure. The renegotiated price, down from Tk643.61 crore after November discussions, might seem like a bargain, but at what cost? Strings attached include technology transfers that could bind us to Chinese standards, spare parts, and potentially even intelligence-sharing protocols, all while deepening economic dependence.
This isn’t isolated. On the other side of the Pacific, the United States is equally aggressive in its courtship. In August 2025, the US Embassy announced collaboration with Bangladesh’s Army and Navy to develop Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) capabilities, including the delivery of the RQ-21 Blackjack system. Framed as support for maritime monitoring, border security, and peacekeeping, this “partnership” follows joint exercises and previous deliveries of small UAS to special forces in 2022.
Yet, history reveals the ulterior motives: In 2023, former US Ambassador Peter Haas dangled advanced capabilities like the Blackjack UAS and patrol boats, contingent on signing the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA)—a pact that would have aligned Bangladesh firmly in the US orbit. Sheikh Hasina’s refusal, citing threats to sovereignty such as demands for an airbase on Saint Martin’s Island and concessions in the Bay of Bengal, preceded her ouster amid 2024’s turbulence.
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Now, with Brent Christensen—a China-hawk and US-India defense booster—as the new ambassador arriving on January 12, 2026, the US agenda is transparent: counter China’s “creep” through projects like the Payra deep-sea port, while sidelining domestic reforms. This isn’t aid; it’s coercion, turning our armed forces into a buffer in the US-China rivalry.
The meddling doesn’t stop there. Enter Pakistan, seizing the moment to revive old alliances. Last week’s talks between the air force chiefs of Pakistan and Bangladesh focused on procuring JF-17 Thunder fighter jets—co-developed with China—and fast-tracked delivery of Super Mushshak trainers. Pakistan’s military press wing touted this as strengthening ties, capitalizing on its recent conflicts with India. But context matters: This aligns with Chinese efforts to forge a Bangladesh-Pakistan bloc, antagonizing India and the US. For Bangladesh, still healing from the scars of 1971, cosying up to Islamabad risks reopening wounds and entangling us in subcontinental feuds that serve foreign interests, not ours.
These deals and dialogues reveal a pattern of exploitation. Foreign powers dangle military hardware and technology as bait, but the hook is control over our defense policies, economic decisions, and geopolitical alignments. The China drone plant, approved by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus (who also oversees defense), comes with conditions like funding from existing budgets and strict compliance with financial rules, yet it locks us into long-term payments through FY2028-29.
Similarly, US offerings demand pacts that compromise autonomy. Pakistan’s overtures? A transparent bid to export arms and gain leverage against India. Collectively, they fragment our sovereignty, turning Bangladesh into a battleground for proxy wars rather than a self-reliant nation.
Bangladesh’s leaders must awaken to this peril. Our independence was forged in resistance to external domination; we cannot now surrender it for shiny drones or jets. Prioritise indigenous development, transparent procurement without hidden clauses, and multilateral diplomacy that safeguards neutrality. Reject the false dichotomies of East vs. West, and assert that Bangladesh’s future belongs to Bangladeshis alone. If we fail, the sovereignty we cherish will become a relic, bartered away in the great power games of our time. The world is watching—let us show them we are no one’s pawn.
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