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Bangladesh

The latest news, analysis and opinion on Bangladesh. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.

Capital

Dhaka

Head of State

President Mohammed Shahabuddin

Head of Government

Chief Adviser of the Interim Government Muhammad Yunus

Supporters of India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi hold Indian flags at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, in 2019. Photo: Reuters

Donald Trump

Anti-South Asian online hate surges in US under Trump 2.0, study finds

Trump’s immigration crackdown and economic anxiety have led to a spike in racist posts targeting South Asians, especially on X.

3 Oct 2026 - 2:46PM

China exports

China has scrapped two-thirds of its planned coal power plants abroad: report

24 Sep 2026 - 9:00AMvideocam

US, Israel war on Iran

Saudi oil pipeline closure puts Asia’s economic resilience to the test

18 Sep 2026 - 9:50PM

US-China relations

China edges US, EU on AI regulation trust in middle-income countries: Pew survey

US think tank study finds middle-income countries have ‘more positive views of China’ when it comes to regulating AI effectively.

18 Sep 2026 - 2:49AMvideocam

A Pew survey found that China leads the US and the European Union in trust in AI regulation among mostly middle-income countries. Photo: Shutterstock

Thailand

Southeast Asia weighs energy transition amid LNG supply crunch

At Gastech 2026, policymakers implore pragmatism over net-zero targets and closer cooperation to ensure affordable LNG supplies.

14 Sep 2026 - 8:35PM

China technology

Opinion | China’s J-10CE has foreign buyers, but not yet a market

In service in Pakistan and Uzbekistan and on Bangladesh’s radar, the fighter jet is not yet a threat to Western market dominance.

14 Sep 2026 - 8:30PMvideocam

India

Bangladesh draws closer to China in ‘political chessboard’ to balance India ties

Dhaka’s pursuit of closer defence and trade cooperation with Beijing could further complicate its complex ties with New Delhi, analysts say.

13 Sep 2026 - 4:00PM

Chinese President Xi Jinping meets then Bangladeshi interim leader Muhammad Yunus in Beijing in March last year. Photo: Xinhua

Science

US-China decoupling could benefit other countries, Chinese study finds

The study suggests a complete severing of trade ties would hurt both superpowers while bringing temporary gains elsewhere.

12 Sep 2026 - 8:00PM

China's military weapons

From Pakistan to Uzbekistan: how China’s J-10CE is widening its overseas reach

Fighter jet is becoming an appealing option for a growing number of foreign operators, potentially providing insight into its performance.

11 Sep 2026 - 5:00PM

Measles outbreak

More than 1,000 children dead in Bangladesh measles crisis

The South Asian nation of 170 million has recorded 1,002 deaths and 187,484 infections among children since March.

9 Sep 2026 - 9:35PM

A woman cuddles her nine-month-old son, who suffers from measles and receives treatment at the Infectious Diseases Hospital in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on Wednesday. Photo: Reuters

SCMP Highlights

Cambodia scam gangs; viral Jennie clip tests South Korea law: 7 Asia highlights

From Japan warships attracting US interest to viral clip of Blackpink’s Jennie, here are a few highlights from SCMP’s recent Asia reporting.

8 Sep 2026 - 4:59PM

Chinese public security officers escort a suspected China-born scam boss off a plane after he was extradited from Cambodia in April. Photo: China’s Ministry of Public Security/AFP

Measles outbreak

Bangladesh measles outbreak nears 1,000 child deaths as hospital wards fill

An epidemic is sweeping the country, with at least 986 children dead since March and cases topping 180,000 following vaccine campaign delays.

5 Sep 2026 - 11:45AM

India

Bangladesh’s talk of joining an ‘Islamic Nato’ raises red flags in India

Joining the Saudi-Turkish-Pakistani security alliance offers Dhaka leverage, but could also threaten its non-aligned stance.

3 Sep 2026 - 5:27PM

Malaysia

Malaysian heritage site caught in row over non-local staff

A viral video shot at the Sultan Abdul Samad Building has sparked a backlash, despite management insisting the worker was not a tour guide.

2 Sep 2026 - 1:03PM

A still from a social media video shows a member of staff helping tourists at the KL City Gallery in the Sultan Abdul Samad Building, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Photo: YouTube

China's military weapons

Bangladesh confirms Chinese J-10CE jet deal, citing Rafale shot down by Pakistan

Dhaka’s decision to buy the fighters shows that views on Chinese weapons are shifting and the market is opening, military expert says.

29 Aug 2026 - 2:58AM

A J-10CE multi-role combat aircraft is displayed at the Zhuhai International Air Show Centre in Zhuhai, Guangdong province on November 11, 2024. Photo: VCG via Getty Images

India

Why South Asian students are rethinking Western university education

Rising costs, visa restrictions and better regional choices drive a shift towards domestic undergraduate study before going abroad.

26 Aug 2026 - 7:00PM

India

India rescues 2 Chinese nationals from sunken cargo ship, searches for others

The Panama-flagged vessel had ‌24 crew on board, including 20 Chinese nationals, according to India’s coastguard.

23 Aug 2026 - 3:03PM

United States

US court strikes down Trump visa ban affecting South Asian nations

Federal judge calls 75-country suspension ‘patently unlawful’, ruling officials cannot block visas based on nationality.

22 Aug 2026 - 1:51PM

Federal immigration agents seen in Los Angeles last year. US President Donald Trump has pursued an ‌aggressive immigration crackdown during his second term. Photo: Los Angeles Times/TNS

US-China trade war

Editorial | ‘Transshipment scam’ is not a global conspiracy but a warning to the US

The White House’s accusation that over 40 nations are involved in a shadow network that harms the US betrays a misunderstanding of how trade works.

20 Aug 2026 - 7:15AM

India

Bangladesh’s energy crisis opens door for India to mend ties

Ties have been strained by Sheikh Hasina’s self-exile in New Delhi, with Bangladesh ruling out a visit by its president to India for now.

20 Aug 2026 - 1:09AMvideocam

Jobs

Bangladesh rolls out women-only pink buses

The service is operated by women, for women, creating a safe, female-only space on the go.

19 Aug 2026 - 5:41PMvideocam

India

9 killed in Indian budget hotel fire after suspected air-con explosion

Some victims are believed to be Bangladeshi nationals who had travelled to Kolkata for medical treatment.

19 Aug 2026 - 1:37PM

Firefighters stand at an entryway to a hotel where a fire broke out and killed several people, in Kolkata on Wednesday. Photo: Reuters

India

Rahman will not visit India until Hasina extradited to Bangladesh

Foreign ministry officials played down media speculation about a possible trip to India next week by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.

16 Aug 2026 - 6:44PM

Thailand

How Cambodian worker exodus exposes Thailand’s fragile labour model

An estimated 780,000 Cambodian workers have left Thailand since last year’s border conflicts, affecting a wide range of industries.

16 Aug 2026 - 12:00PMvideocam

Human rights

Toxic gas leak kills 8 at Bangladesh ship-breaking yard

Ship-breaking in Bangladesh has long faced global criticism due to its unsafe and environmentally damaging practices.

14 Aug 2026 - 10:06PM

Relatives mourn after a toxic gas leak killed at least eight people at Ferdaus shipyard in Bangladesh’s Chittagong on Friday. Photo: AFP

India

‘Islamic Nato’? Why Pakistan’s new defence pact has India on edge

Analysts say the pact could evolve into a broader ideological military bloc that could extend its influence to the Indian Ocean region.

11 Aug 2026 - 6:45PM

Pakistani people and students hold flags to celebrate the Pakistan-Saudi Arab-Turkish joint defence pact on Monday. Photo: EPA

India-Pakistan tensions

Maldives’ plea to restart South Asian bloc hits India-Pakistan brick wall

Calls for reviving Saarc are likely to fall on deaf ears as long as the two neighbours are at loggerheads, analysts say.

9 Aug 2026 - 2:00PMvideocam

Protests around the world

Opinion | South Asia’s Gen Z protests offer one lesson in common

From Sri Lanka and Nepal to Bangladesh and India, youth protests have shaken or even toppled governments, but creating lasting change has been more challenging.

9 Aug 2026 - 5:30AMvideocam

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Bangladesh

Anti-South Asian online hate surges in US under Trump 2.0, study finds

Trump’s immigration crackdown and economic anxiety have led to a spike in racist posts targeting South Asians, especially on X.

China has scrapped two-thirds of its planned coal power plants abroad: report

Saudi oil pipeline closure puts Asia’s economic resilience to the test

China edges US, EU on AI regulation trust in middle-income countries: Pew survey

US think tank study finds middle-income countries have ‘more positive views of China’ when it comes to regulating AI effectively.

Southeast Asia weighs energy transition amid LNG supply crunch

At Gastech 2026, policymakers implore pragmatism over net-zero targets and closer cooperation to ensure affordable LNG supplies.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Opinion | China’s J-10CE has foreign buyers, but not yet a market

In service in Pakistan and Uzbekistan and on Bangladesh’s radar, the fighter jet is not yet a threat to Western market dominance.

Bangladesh draws closer to China in ‘political chessboard’ to balance India ties

Dhaka’s pursuit of closer defence and trade cooperation with Beijing could further complicate its complex ties with New Delhi, analysts say.

US-China decoupling could benefit other countries, Chinese study finds

The study suggests a complete severing of trade ties would hurt both superpowers while bringing temporary gains elsewhere.

From Pakistan to Uzbekistan: how China’s J-10CE is widening its overseas reach

Fighter jet is becoming an appealing option for a growing number of foreign operators, potentially providing insight into its performance.

More than 1,000 children dead in Bangladesh measles crisis

The South Asian nation of 170 million has recorded 1,002 deaths and 187,484 infections among children since March.

Cambodia scam gangs; viral Jennie clip tests South Korea law: 7 Asia highlights

From Japan warships attracting US interest to viral clip of Blackpink’s Jennie, here are a few highlights from SCMP’s recent Asia reporting.

Bangladesh measles outbreak nears 1,000 child deaths as hospital wards fill

An epidemic is sweeping the country, with at least 986 children dead since March and cases topping 180,000 following vaccine campaign delays.

Bangladesh’s talk of joining an ‘Islamic Nato’ raises red flags in India

Joining the Saudi-Turkish-Pakistani security alliance offers Dhaka leverage, but could also threaten its non-aligned stance.

Malaysian heritage site caught in row over non-local staff

A viral video shot at the Sultan Abdul Samad Building has sparked a backlash, despite management insisting the worker was not a tour guide.

Bangladesh confirms Chinese J-10CE jet deal, citing Rafale shot down by Pakistan

Dhaka’s decision to buy the fighters shows that views on Chinese weapons are shifting and the market is opening, military expert says.

Why South Asian students are rethinking Western university education

Rising costs, visa restrictions and better regional choices drive a shift towards domestic undergraduate study before going abroad.

India rescues 2 Chinese nationals from sunken cargo ship, searches for others

The Panama-flagged vessel had ‌24 crew on board, including 20 Chinese nationals, according to India’s coastguard.

US court strikes down Trump visa ban affecting South Asian nations

Federal judge calls 75-country suspension ‘patently unlawful’, ruling officials cannot block visas based on nationality.

Editorial | ‘Transshipment scam’ is not a global conspiracy but a warning to the US

The White House’s accusation that over 40 nations are involved in a shadow network that harms the US betrays a misunderstanding of how trade works.

Bangladesh’s energy crisis opens door for India to mend ties

Ties have been strained by Sheikh Hasina’s self-exile in New Delhi, with Bangladesh ruling out a visit by its president to India for now.

Bangladesh rolls out women-only pink buses

The service is operated by women, for women, creating a safe, female-only space on the go.

9 killed in Indian budget hotel fire after suspected air-con explosion

Some victims are believed to be Bangladeshi nationals who had travelled to Kolkata for medical treatment.

Rahman will not visit India until Hasina extradited to Bangladesh

Foreign ministry officials played down media speculation about a possible trip to India next week by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.

How Cambodian worker exodus exposes Thailand’s fragile labour model

An estimated 780,000 Cambodian workers have left Thailand since last year’s border conflicts, affecting a wide range of industries.

Toxic gas leak kills 8 at Bangladesh ship-breaking yard

Ship-breaking in Bangladesh has long faced global criticism due to its unsafe and environmentally damaging practices.

‘Islamic Nato’? Why Pakistan’s new defence pact has India on edge

Analysts say the pact could evolve into a broader ideological military bloc that could extend its influence to the Indian Ocean region.

Maldives’ plea to restart South Asian bloc hits India-Pakistan brick wall

Calls for reviving Saarc are likely to fall on deaf ears as long as the two neighbours are at loggerheads, analysts say.

Opinion | South Asia’s Gen Z protests offer one lesson in common

From Sri Lanka and Nepal to Bangladesh and India, youth protests have shaken or even toppled governments, but creating lasting change has been more challenging.

Opinion | China’s J-10CE has foreign buyers, but not yet a market