India On High Alert As Bangladesh Opens Maritime Route To Pakistan

For the first time since Bangladesh’s independence in 1971, a cargo ship from Pakistan docked directly at the port of Chittagong in Bangladesh on November 11, 2024. This is a groundbreaking moment in history, signaling a new chapter in the relationship between these two neighboring countries.

Until now, Bangladesh and Pakistan had never had direct maritime contact, and goods from Pakistan had to be offloaded at other ports in countries like Sri Lanka or Malaysia before reaching Bangladesh. But this new direct sea route will drastically cut down on shipping time, making it easier and faster to move goods between the two countries.

This development is significant not only because of the economic benefits but also because it hints at a larger shift in Bangladesh’s foreign policy. For the past several months, signals have been coming from Bangladesh’s government—led by Prime Minister Muhammad Yunus—that it may be drifting away from India and getting closer to Pakistan. This shif...