How Bangladesh should prepare for future shadow war

Maj Gen HRM Rokan Uddin (Retd) For fifty-five years, Bangladesh’s relationship with India has been framed in the language of liberation-era gratitude, yet the substance of that relationship, examined through trade balances, water-sharing outcomes, border security, and political interference, tells a more complicated story than the friendship narrative suggests. India’s trade surplus with Bangladesh has … More How Bangladesh should prepare for future shadow war

Sheikh Mujib wanted to Rule Pakistan, Not break

Maj Gen HRM Rokan Uddin (Retd) The question of whether Sheikh Mujibur Rahman genuinely desired independence for Bangladesh or was primarily chasing the prime ministership of a unified Pakistan, is one that has haunted the country’s political discourse for decades. It is a question that deserves honest examination, free from both the hagiography of his … More Sheikh Mujib wanted to Rule Pakistan, Not break

The Makkah Alliance: A Landmark in Regional Geopolitics

Maj Gen HRM Rokan Uddin (Retd) The signing of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement by Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan on 7 August 2026 marks one of the most significant developments in the evolving security architecture of the Middle East and the wider Muslim world. Signed by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President … More The Makkah Alliance: A Landmark in Regional Geopolitics

Why Sheikh Hasina Will Not Return: A Reality Check

Maj Gen HRM Rokan Uddin (Retd) There is a meaningful distinction between weathering a political movement and facing a death sentence, and this distinction sits at the heart of why Sheikh Hasina is unlikely to set foot in Bangladesh again. In the 1990s, and even during the army-backed caretaker period of 2007-08, she confronted political … More Why Sheikh Hasina Will Not Return: A Reality Check

An Old Foundation of Harmony: The Shadow of New Conspiracies and Crises

Maj Gen HRM Rokan Uddin (Retd.) Bangladesh is a land of harmony with a history stretching back centuries. The story of this land is not merely the separate history of Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, or Christians; rather, it is a unique history of coexistence, mutual respect, and cultural integration. For generations, the people of Bengal have … More An Old Foundation of Harmony: The Shadow of New Conspiracies and Crises

Afghanistan- Pakistan Conflict and Negative role of India

Major General HRM Rokan Uddin (Retd) Few conflicts in the contemporary world carry the weight of history, the complexity of identity and the tragedy of missed opportunity quite like the ongoing tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan. These are two Muslim nations bound together by geography, ethnicity, religion and shared suffering – and yet locked in … More Afghanistan- Pakistan Conflict and Negative role of India

A Peace Loving Nation:Ready to Defend

HRM Rokan Uddin Bangladesh is a peace-loving state. Since independence, the core foundation of its foreign policy has been peaceful coexistence, mutual respect, and the resolution of disputes through dialogue. Bangladesh does not seek conflict or war with any country, nor does it aspire to interfere in the internal affairs of others. Its active participation … More A Peace Loving Nation:Ready to Defend

Rethinking of Defense Industry Zone at Mirsarai

HRM Rokan Uddin When Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Dhaka in June 2015, one of the most consequential—yet insufficiently debated—outcome was the proposal to establish a dedicated Indian Economic Zone (IEZ) inside Bangladesh. Framed as an economic confidence-building measure, the proposal aimed to facilitate Indian investment and deepen bilateral economic integration. Then Prime Minister Sheikh … More Rethinking of Defense Industry Zone at Mirsarai

Blood on the Hills: The Making of a Crisis

Brig Gen HRM Rokan Uddin (Retd) The Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) have long been one of Bangladesh’s most fragile frontiers. Rugged hills, dense forests, and a border touching both India and Myanmar make the region strategically vital. Whoever controls the CHT holds a gateway to the Bay of Bengal and a corridor to India’s vulnerable … More Blood on the Hills: The Making of a Crisis

India–Afghanistan Relations: Strategy Behind the Mask of Friendship

Brigadier General (Retd.) HRM Rokan Uddin, psc South Asia’s geopolitics now face a new reality. After years of war and foreign intervention, Afghanistan stands at a delicate stage of national reconstruction. In this situation, India has extended its hand of diplomacy and development cooperation—appearing as a generous friend. Yet history, geography, and India’s strategic behavior … More India–Afghanistan Relations: Strategy Behind the Mask of Friendship