Bangladesh-China port deal alarms Indian security analysts

A new agreement between Bangladesh and China to jointly operate a strategic port has raised concerns among security analysts in India. The deal gives Chinese companies a long-term role in managing the Payra port, located on Bangladesh’s southern coast. Indian experts worry this could give Beijing a stronger military and economic foothold in the region. The port sits near the Bay of Bengal, a key waterway for global trade and Indian naval operations. Analysts say the arrangement may allow China to monitor shipping routes and increase its influence in South Asia. Bangladesh’s government has defended the deal as purely commercial, aimed at boosting trade and infrastructure. However, Indian officials have not publicly commented on the security implications.