The contacts between the Bay of Bengal region with Indonesian archipelago has commenced since centuries ago. Indonesia and Bangladesh were connected to maritime Silk Road of Indian Ocean trade network, where goods travels and ideas exchanged. Since early 4th-century Indonesia has received Hindu, and subsequently Buddhist influences from Indian subcontinent. In 9th-century the Srivijaya empire established contacts through religious and education relations with Buddhist schools, monasteries and universities in ancient India and Bangladesh, such as Nalanda and Somapura. After the separation of Bangladesh from Pakistan, Indonesia along with other non-Arab Muslim countries such as Malaysia, Turkey and Afghanistan immediately recognised Bangladesh sovereignty in 1971. Subsequently, Bangladesh soon after its independence in 1971 established diplomatic relations with Indonesia and the Embassy started functioning from May 1972.
Country comparison
Cooperations
Both nations welcomes initiatives in furthering the bilateral co-operation in various areas including trade and investment, agriculture, defence, education, food security, good governance, counter-terrorism, research and technology as well as disaster mitigation and management. Besides bilateral co-operation, both nations exchanged their views on the two countries' co-operation in regional and global fora. As the Muslim majority countries, both nations also exchange view and voiced their concern on addressing the Rohingya Muslim refugees issue in neighbouring Myanmar. At the end of October, both Bangladesh and Indonesia saw strikes involving millions of low-wage workers demanding substantial increases in their minimum wages. Semen Indonesia, the country's largest cement maker, is mulling over plans to expand its business to Bangladesh in efforts to capitalize on Bangladesh's rising consumer demand. Bangladesh, Indonesia and Iran were rated as the nations most at risk from extreme weather and geophysical events according to a 2010 study. , Global risks advisory firm Maplecroft, had developed the Natural Disasters Risk Index to enable businesses and insurance companies to identify risks to international assets.
Trade
Indonesia have recently signed a deal with a Bangladesh pharmaceutical company to export its goods to their country where Bangladesh sees another potential market for its pharmaceutical products. Trade between the two countries amounted to US$1.53 billion in 2017.
