New Delhi has chosen veteran politician Dinesh Trivedi, not a career diplomat, as high commissioner to Dhaka, conferring Cabinet rank. The message was unmistakable: Bangladesh intends to broaden its strategic options and is no longer ready to be seen operating within India’s political orbit. Can Bangladesh demonstrate that stronger ties with Beijing won’t come at India’s strategic expense? New Delhi and Dhaka have exchanged powerful diplomatic signals. Wasbir Hussain, author and political commentator, is editor-in-chief of Northeast Live, Northeast India’s only satellite English and Hindi news channel.