Bangladesh, Jan. 20 -- In politics, symbolism is never accidental. Leaders may claim innocence, coincidence, or logistical necessity, but the choices they make—what they touch, where they go, whom they stand beside—speak louder than any press release. In recent weeks, Muhammad Yunus has offered Bangladesh a masterclass in how symbolism can curdle into recklessness. The misuse of an Indian-donated ICU ambulance for political campaigning, followed by the conspicuous involvement of Chinas ambassador in a politically sensitive region, is not merely tone-deaf. It is alarming. And it risks pushing Bangladesh into a geopolitical cul-de-sac from which recovery will be costly.

Start with the ambulance.The ICU van gifted by India was i...