BANGLADESH INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL AND STRATEGIC STUDIES
ASSESSING BANGLADESH-GERMANY RELATIONS: EXPLORING DYNAMICS, CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
Author: Md Ali Siddiquee and Saddam Hosen
DOI Link: https://www.doi.org/10.56888/BIISSj2025v46n1a4
ABSTRACT
Bangladesh has a longstanding relationship with Germany, including with the former East Germany, which was the first European nation to formally recognise the country as an independent state on 11 January 1972. Since then, Germany has been one of its largest trade and development partners of Bangladesh, contributing significantly to its socioeconomic development. Given this, the paper examines different nuances of Bangladesh- Germany bilateral relations on some specific issues based on qualitative analysis of secondary literature. The article moves away from the realist explanation and instead focuses mainly on how and why bilateral relations have a deeper linkage closely aligned with the theoretical lenses of neoliberalism. The article also explores the emerging possibilities and challenges of Bangladesh’s relations with Germany. It identifies that despite numerous obstacles, for instance, trade deficits, weak infrastructures, social and political instabilities, governance challenges, and limited technological developments in Bangladesh, bilateral relations have improved gradually as it is today. This partnership, built on friendship, trust, and mutual cooperation has fostered political, economic, and socio-cultural engagements and developments in recent years. Mostly, Bangladesh- Germany relations have seen a revival, with increased collaboration in energy, trade, education, technical assistance, human rights, climate, and environmental initiatives to name a few. As Bangladesh nears graduation from Least Developed Country (LDC) status, Germany is becoming increasingly relevant in its national and foreign policy. Thus, to outline the future outlook of this partnership, the article has attempted to analyse the last 50-year history of Bangladesh-Germany relations.