Bangladesh has reportedly remained incensed for more than two days following an online press conference held in New Delhi by deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy — an event that went largely unreported inside Bangladesh amid what sources describe as an official information blackout. The press conference, and particularly Wazed's remarks, have sharpened anxieties across South Asia about the direction Dhaka is heading under its current administration.

It was Wazed's assertion that post-Hasina Bangladesh increasingly resembles 'another Pakistan on India's eastern front' that has drawn the sharpest reaction. He warned that the country is drifting toward instability and could become a source of regional insecurity unless urgent corrective steps are taken.

Jamaat's rehabilitation and political consolidation

One of the most consequential early decisions of the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government was the formal reversal of a ban on Jamaat-e-Islami, Bangladesh's largest Islamist party, and its student wing, Islami Chhatra Shibir. The ban had been imposed under the country's Anti-Terrorism Act by the then Awami League government, which accused the group of inciting violence during student-led protests.

The interim administration revoked the executive ban, stating it found 'no specific evidence' linking Jamaat or its affiliates to terrorist activities. Since then, Jamaat-e-Islami has consolidated rapidly, positioning itself as the principal opposition — heading an alliance against the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) — and has, on several occasions, reportedly sought to pressure Prime Minister Tarique Rahman into accommodating its demands.

Dhaka-Karachi flights and the LeT scrutiny cloud

The interim government also re-established direct air connectivity between Bangladesh and Pakistan after a 14-year suspension, resuming state carrier Biman Bangladesh Airlines on the Dhaka-Karachi route. The original suspension, dating to 2012, had been ordered by the Hasina administration on security grounds.

The resumption quickly attracted controversy. A Biman flight that arrived in Dhaka on 30 January this year — carrying 113 passengers from Karachi — reportedly had 'at least 28 individuals' under scrutiny for possible links to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), according to reports. The incident intensified concerns about the security implications of restored Pakistan-Bangladesh travel links.

Security clearances, ISI allegations, and intelligence signals

Earlier reports alleged that the interim government, in late 2024, dismantled critical counter-terrorism safeguards by abruptly withdrawing mandatory security clearance requirements for Pakistani nationals and exempting Pakistani cargo from customs inspections — steps that analysts say created significant vulnerability at Bangladesh's ports and borders.

Regional intelligence briefs published by independent platforms have further alleged that Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) is using Bangladesh as a transit node, reportedly coordinating with its proxy Lashkar-e-Taiba to plot actions targeting India's eastern border states. These are allegations, and Dhaka has not publicly confirmed them. Wazed raised the ISI expansion issue directly during the New Delhi press conference, lending the claims additional political salience.

Notably, the BNP-led government has since reportedly moderated some of the more controversial security reversals, though analysts argue Dhaka still needs to chart a clearer course on regional stability.

China's expanding footprint: ports, rivers, and submarines

Alongside the security dimension, Bangladesh's deepening strategic alignment with China has drawn sustained attention. Beijing's engagement spans infrastructure, energy, and defence — each carrying distinct strategic weight.

Among the most closely watched projects is the Mongla Port Economic Zone, a 110-acre industrial hub being developed by the state-owned China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation. Its location — close to India's eastern frontier — positions Chinese-backed industry at a point that could reshape regional trade flows and supply chains. A proposed airport near Mongla has also drawn Chinese interest, compounding regional unease.

The Teesta River Comprehensive Management and Restoration Project adds a water-security dimension. The Teesta, which originates in Sikkim and is a major tributary of the Brahmaputra (flowing as the Jamuna in Bangladesh), has long been a source of India-Bangladesh water-sharing disputes. China's involvement in dredging, flood control, and hydrological management introduces Beijing into a transboundary resource debate that directly affects India's northeastern states.

On the defence front, Beijing is reportedly assisting Dhaka in developing a submarine base at Cox's Bazar — a move that would extend China's military footprint in South Asia, particularly given its existing role as a supplier of submarines to Bangladesh's navy. Bangladesh has also been progressively integrated into China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) framework.

What comes next

The cumulative picture — Jamaat's resurgence, restored Pakistan air links, alleged ISI activity, and China's expanding strategic presence — has placed Bangladesh's trajectory at the centre of South Asia's security calculus. Whether Dhaka can balance its evolving external partnerships while maintaining regional trust will be among the defining questions for the subcontinent in the months ahead.