Following strong protests by the Bangladesh Border Guard (BGB), India’s Border Security Force (BSF) has removed a surveillance camera installed near the zero line of the border in Bhurungamari’s South Bashjani area. The camera, positioned on a tree facing Bangladesh near the historic Jora Mosque, was set up on February 9 at around 2 AM. BGB lodged multiple complaints but initially received no response. After a flag meeting on February 11, BSF agreed to dismantle the camera, which was taken down later that night.

Indian Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has called on the Indian government to closely monitor the situation in Bangladesh, warning that an unfavorable government in Dhaka could pose risks to India. As Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on External Affairs, he stressed that India must commit to the welfare of all Bangladeshis rather than appearing biased towards any particular political party or group. Additionally, he supported the idea of granting asylum to Sheikh Hasina in India if necessary.

Indian actor and Trinamool Congress MP Dipak Adhikari, popularly known as Dev, has raised concerns in the Lok Sabha about the lack of barbed-wire fencing along large stretches of the India-Bangladesh border. According to an ABP report, Dev submitted questions about the total unfenced border area and the reasons behind it. The Indian government responded that 864.482 km of the border remains unfenced, with 174.514 km being impossible to fence due to opposition from Bangladesh’s Border Guard (BGB), land acquisition issues, water bodies, and landslides.

Irish Ambassador to Bangladesh, Kevin Kelly, met with Chief Advisor Mohammad Yunus in Tejgaon today. During the meeting, Kelly affirmed Ireland’s full support for Bangladesh’s interim government, democratic restoration, and reform programs. He expressed Ireland’s interest in increasing imports from Bangladesh and mentioned the possibility of sending an Irish delegation to assist in democratic transformation. Additionally, Ireland pledged continued humanitarian support for Rohingya refugees.

Just before Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s U.S. visit on February 12, President Donald Trump announced a 25% tariff on aluminum and steel products, effective this week. This move could severely impact India’s $3 billion steel exports to the U.S. and is seen as a diplomatic challenge for Modi. Previously, Trump imposed a 10% tariff on Chinese imports and announced similar tariffs on Canada and Mexico, though the latter was temporarily postponed. Experts view this as a significant shift in U.S. trade policy.

Bangladesh’s Foreign Adviser Touhid Hossain and India’s Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar will meet on the sidelines of the Indian Ocean Conference 2025, scheduled for February 16-17 in Oman. Dhaka is expected to convey a strong message urging India to refrain from any actions that could destabilize bilateral relations. The Bangladeshi delegation will also warn against using Sheikh Hasina’s political influence to create internal unrest. The meeting invitation was extended by India’s foreign ministry last month, following their last bilateral discussion in the United States.

Bangladesh’s economy has made a strong recovery, with key indicators showing significant improvement, according to Chief Advisor Professor Muhammad Yunus’s Press Secretary, Shafiqul Alam. Speaking at a press briefing, he stated that macroeconomic stability has returned, with foreign reserves at $20 billion, covering 3.5 months of imports. Export growth has reached 10%, new jobs are being created, and inflation has dropped from 12% to 9%. The government expects inflation to fall further to 7.5% by July, ensuring price stability during Ramadan.

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha acknowledged India’s dependence on Bangladesh, stating that both nations need each other. Speaking at a press conference in Agartala, he highlighted completed but stalled projects like the Maitri Bridge and the Agartala-Akhaura rail link. Recent tensions, including attacks on Bangladesh’s consular office in Tripura, led to a diplomatic strain. However, Saha expressed hope that once conditions stabilize, these projects will resume, stressing that Bangladesh, too, cannot function without India’s support.

Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has dismissed India’s statement regarding the vandalism and arson attack at Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s residence on Dhanmondi 32 as “unwanted” and an interference in the country’s internal affairs. The ministry’s spokesperson, Mohammad Rafiqul Alam, stated that Bangladesh does not expect such remarks from India. He also pointed out that the ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s political statements from India are not being well received by the people of Bangladesh. The government has already clarified its position regarding the unrest that followed her speech on February 5.

Bangladesh Bank will announce a new monetary policy tomorrow for the last six months of the fiscal year, prioritizing inflation control, foreign reserves, and exchange rate stability. Despite previous rate hikes failing to curb inflation, the central bank will keep policy interest rates unchanged. Experts argue that raising rates increases production costs and worsens inflation. Governor Dr. Ahsan H. Mansur, announcing his first policy, aims for a cautious approach. Analysts stress the need for market regulation and coordinated institutional efforts to tackle inflation effectively.

China has raised objections regarding maps and information in Bangladesh’s primary and secondary school textbooks, as well as on the Survey Department’s website. Beijing claims that Arunachal Pradesh and Aksai Chin are incorrectly marked as part of India instead of being recognized as Zangnan and Aksai Chin, which China asserts as its own territories. Additionally, China has sent a letter to Bangladesh addressing concerns over the depiction of Hong Kong and Taiwan as separate entities in trade data rather than as part of China. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh has stated that these concerns will be taken into account next year, as the printing of this year’s textbooks is nearly complete. However, the border dispute between India and China remains unresolved, with both nations laying claim to these territories.

Bangladesh Air Force Chief Hasan Mahmood Khan has left for an official visit to Saudi Arabia and the UAE, according to a press release issued on February 8. The ISPR reported that he will visit Saudi Arabia from February 9-13 at the invitation of the Royal Saudi Air Force, where he will inspect facilities and discuss bilateral interests. Following this, he will visit the UAE on February 14-15 at the invitation of the UAE Embassy to engage in similar discussions and site visits.

Despite ongoing geopolitical tensions, Bangladesh's foreign affairs advisor emphasized maintaining strong relations with India, China, and the United States. He highlighted the economic ties between India and China and India's alliance with the US while reaffirming Bangladesh’s commitment to a balanced foreign policy. He also mentioned Dr. Yunus’ role in fostering international confidence in Bangladesh’s trajectory. When asked about the government's achievements over the past six months, he asserted that the country is progressing correctly in both economic and political spheres. Addressing past tensions with Pakistan, he noted that they were politically motivated and unnecessary, and efforts are being made to normalize relations. Acknowledging complexities surrounding Hasina’s asylum in India, the advisor stated that Bangladesh aims to establish mutually beneficial partnerships with all nations. Talks with China have focused on trade and development, while relations with the US remain unchanged.

The economic policies of the previous Awami League government trapped the country in a vicious cycle of corruption and mismanagement. Despite various rescue efforts, the economy continues to suffer from these systemic issues. One major problem is inflation, as commodity prices remain high. Although inflation has gradually decreased since October, consumers remain at the mercy of powerful syndicates that manipulate supply to charge higher prices. According to a former World Bank official in Dhaka, $16 billion was smuggled out of the country annually under Awami League rule, leaving the economy in a depleted state. Excessive printing of money led to rampant inflation, which peaked at 11.66% in July but has now dropped to 9.94%. The current administration is focused on reducing inflation and controlling capital flight, but the economy’s recovery remains uncertain due to continued dominance by corrupt business elites.

Indian Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s recent remarks were made in her personal capacity and do not align with India’s official stance. He made this clarification following the summoning of the Indian High Commissioner in Bangladesh on February 7. Jaiswal reaffirmed that India seeks a positive, constructive, and mutually beneficial relationship with Bangladesh. However, he expressed disappointment that official statements from Bangladeshi authorities often portray India in a negative light. He emphasized that Hasina’s statements were made in her individual capacity and do not represent India’s role in bilateral relations.