New Delhi, Aug. 3 -- When Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman chose Malaysia and China for his first overseas trip since taking office, rather than India, the decision was read in New Delhi as a deliberate signal. Indian commentary framed it as Dhaka bypassing a relationship that has traditionally received the inaugural visit of a new Bangladeshi premier. The five days Rahman spent in Beijing in June only sharpened that reading. Bangladeshi officials confirmed the two sides had reached, for the first time, an understanding to explore a "2+2" dialogue mechanism pairing their foreign and defence ministries - a format historically associated with Western alliance partnerships that Beijing has increasingly adopted to deepen strategic tie...