Bangladesh's Prime Minister Tarique Rahman made China his first major overseas destination, signing agreements that include a joint feasibility study on managing the Teesta River and a deal to develop a special economic zone near Mongla port — moves closely watched in New Delhi as Beijing expands its influence in South Asia. The visit signals Dhaka's effort to secure Chinese investment and expertise to revive a struggling economy, while India-Bangladesh relations, which froze after the August 2024 ousting of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina — who fled to India — have begun to cautiously thaw, with bus services resumed and India appointing a new, cabinet-ranked high commissioner to Dhaka. Any Chinese role in the Teesta River project is particularly sensitive for India, as the river lies near the Siliguri Corridor (a narrow 22-kilometre strip linking India's mainland to its northeastern states), and analysts say Rahman faces a delicate balancing act given that India remains an indispensable neighbour economically and strategically, even as anti-India sentiment remains strong in Bangladesh.