Bangladesh's Relations with China and India: A Comparative Study

China's influence in South Asia has significantly grown over the years, and in particular Bangladeshi-Chinese relations are now robust and very comprehensive. This is in contrast to Bangladeshi-Indian relations, which are extremely uneven. While the latter are substantial and not totally negative, in comparison to Bangladeshi-Chinese relations they are riddled with controversies. How does one explain this contrast, especially when China lacks the historic-cultural advantages and linkages that India has with Bangladesh? The paper attempts to delineate the contrasting Bangladeshi perceptions vis--vis India and China and their underlying rationale and how the growing Bangladeshi-Chinese relations impact India's security as well as its bilateral engagement with Bangladesh.