The Illegitimate Occupation Regime Is Driving Bangladesh Toward Economic Collapse

The current state of Bangladesh resembles a slow, silent suicide. An unelected, illegitimate regime has seized control of the state apparatus—not through any democratic mandate or electoral process, but via a deceptive, makeshift shadow administration. At the helm sits a man who is sacrificing national interests day by day to appease foreign donors and cling to power with the backing of external forces. In this suicidal game, it is the nation’s economy, export sector, foreign policy, and—most dangerously—national sovereignty that are repeatedly paying the price.

One of the clearest examples of this disaster came when a long-standing, vital trade facility—one that enabled exporters to send goods quickly and cost-effectively—was abruptly shut down. The official explanation for this decision is both unacceptable and a glaring admission of diplomatic failure. Effective bilateral trade arrangements don’t collapse overnight unless there has been a serious deterioration in relations. Yet the regime remains silent, indifferent, and absurdly claims there will be no impact.

Such brazen denial of reality is rare in history. Exporters themselves are reporting that thousands of tons of goods are stuck each week, costs are skyrocketing, and delivery schedules are falling apart. Still, a top government official suggests using alternative routes—routes that have long been abandoned due to inefficiency, excessive costs, and logistical constraints. Now, the government is trying to force that same failed infrastructure back into use.

What’s even more alarming is that this situation is not accidental. It is the strategic consequence of a regime driven by short-sightedness and flawed foreign policy. For years, Bangladesh maintained a balanced and multipolar foreign policy rooted in diplomacy, regional cooperation, and strategic neutrality. That model has now been discarded. In its place, the ruling clique has imposed a dangerously one-sided, externally dependent foreign posture, destabilizing the country’s geopolitical environment. Worse still, by signing military and infrastructure deals involving sensitive geographic regions, they have triggered a strategic crisis.

This occupation regime has effectively turned Bangladesh’s territory into a bargaining chip. Branding the country’s location as a “gateway to the sea” may win applause from foreign powers, but embedded in that phrase is a disturbing message—the erosion of sovereignty. A nation that offers itself as a corridor for others ceases to be truly free; it becomes a satellite.

At the same time, while the regime brags about infrastructure development, the essential modernization of airport cargo and logistics facilities—key to export competitiveness—remains unfulfilled. Exporting goods via Dhaka’s main airport still costs nearly 80 cents more per kilogram than regional norms. Capacity remains limited, and thousands of exporters are being forced to find unreliable alternatives. Yet the government narrative paints a picture of progress fit for a developed economy.

Today, a critical economic sector—responsible for a major share of the country’s foreign exchange inflow—is under immense pressure. Yes, global markets face tariffs, inflation, and political volatility. But when those entrusted with defending the sector at home fail utterly, collapse becomes inevitable. That collapse is happening right now.

This regime has willfully sacrificed long-term national interests to secure its own short-term survival. It is destroying exports, labor markets, diplomacy, and security all at once. There’s no need to ask how safe the nation’s future is under such a government—businesses are losing hope, investors are backing away, and workers are struggling to survive.

If this trajectory continues, the consequences are clear: exports will fall, remittances will decline, foreign currency reserves will shrink, the taka will weaken, and inflation will spiral. And at the heart of this looming disaster will be a reckless, incompetent, unelected regime—one that answers to no one, holds no elections, and governs solely by whim.

History will not forget. Those who betray the interests of their country today will one day stand in its court of judgment. No excuse, no outcry, no spin will save them. Because the betrayal of a nation is a crime that history never absolves.