Why Bangladesh Must Rethink Its Israel Policy

Reading Time: 6 minutes In today’s unforgiving regional environment, defence is not about sentiment. It is about capability, timing, and access. For Bangladesh, caught between two neighbours with evolving security doctrines and increasingly sophisticated arsenals, there is growing reason to reconsider its traditional posture towards Israel. This is not about ideology or grandstanding at the OIC. This is about the simple fact that both India and Myanmar have, for decades, enjoyed quiet but potent military-to-military and intelligence ties with Israel. That relationship has delivered them battlefield-tested hardware, precision ISR capabilities, and next-generation systems that now define their edge in the subcontinental theatre. While Dhaka continues to walk a cautious diplomatic line, its neighbours have already changed the rules of engagement. India’s extensive procurement from Israeli defence contractors is well documented. From Spike anti-tank guided missiles with fire-and-forget and non-line-of-sight capabilities to Heron and Hermes UAVs integrated into their command and