India-Bangladesh relations in the post-Sheikh Hasina era: Challenges, strategic realignments and regional security in South Asia (2024-2026)

At a moment of political flux and strategic contestation, India-Bangladesh relations stand at a decisive crossroads. The post-Sheikh Hasina phase (2024-2026) has introduced uncertainty into a partnership long central to South Asian stability. This study examines how Bangladesh’s political transition, shifting foreign-policy orientations and rising external influencesparticularly China and Pakistan-are reshaping bilateral ties. It analyses pressures on security cooperation, border management, trade and energy interdependence, connectivity initiatives and unresolved flashpoints such as minority safety and transboundary water sharing. While economic and energy links display resilience, political recalibration has altered strategic expectations on both sides. The findings suggest that future relations will hinge on pragmatic engagement, timely dispute resolution and the ability to balance sovereignty with interdependence, with implications extending across the Bay of Bengal and the wider Indo-Pacific region.