Bangladesh’s China-backed naval dock heightens power play in India’s backyard

New Delhi isn’t ‘overly concerned’ by the development, analysts say, given the strong security and defence ties India has with Bangladesh

But that could change if China’s navy is granted access to the new facility in the strategic Bay of Bengal to service its warships and submarines

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A satellite image of Bangladesh’s submarine base in Cox’s Bazar that circulated on social media. Photo: X/Damien Symon

Published: 6:00pm, 12 May 2024

A naval dock designed to host submarines and warships being built in Bangladesh with China’s help has cast a spotlight on the South Asian nation’s efforts to boost its maritime capabilities, as well as Beijing’s deepening military influence in a region long regarded as India’s backyard.

In March, a satellite image of the dry dock was released on social media platform X by Damien Symon, a researcher with global intelligence research network The Intel Lab.

“This enhanced defence cooperation endeavour by China helps Beijing solidify its presence and influence in the region,” he wrote.

Analysts say India is unlikely to be “overly concerned” for the moment as the facility mostly reflects Bangladesh’s desire to strengthen its naval ambitions, but they caution that New Delhi ought to be watchful of a growing Chinese presence.

In addition to enhanced influence, China could get a new base for its submarines in the Bay of Bengal out of its closer defence ties with Bangladesh, Indian media speculated last month citing the satellite photo.

Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina reviews an honour guard during a welcome ceremony in Beijing in 2019. Hasina inaugurated the new Cox’s Bazar naval facility in March last year. Photo: AP

Troy Lee-Brown, a research fellow at the University of Western Australia’s Defence and Security Institute, said Bangladesh’s navy was building the dry dock at the new Sheikh Hasina submarine base in Cox’s Bazar.