[🇧🇩] China is a Time Tested Friend and a Strategic Partner of Bangladesh

[Saif]

China-funded dormitory for female DU students likely to break ground next year

Necessary internal administrative procedures on Bangladesh's part completed, Chinese ambassador says

www.thedailystar.net

China-funded dormitory for female DU students likely to break ground next year
Necessary internal administrative procedures on Bangladesh's part completed, Chinese ambassador says

Chinese Ambassador Yao Wen, and Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Niaz Ahmed Khan. Photo: DU PRO

Construction of the Chinese government-funded "Bangladesh-China Moitree Hall" for female students of Dhaka University is expected to begin in the first half of next year, said Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen.

He said all necessary internal administrative procedures on Bangladesh's part have already been completed, and a Chinese technical team has arrived in Dhaka. The final decision on the location will be taken within a few days.

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"I hope the construction work will begin in the first half of next year," the ambassador said.

He made the remarks this afternoon while visiting the proposed project area, along with a Chinese expert team tasked with site selection.

Ambassador Yao Wen said the new dormitory would be built to address the urgent need of female students, describing the project as a milestone in China-Bangladesh relations.

"The Chinese government is a trusted friend of Bangladesh, and we are keen to support the expansion of educational opportunities for female students," he added.

Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Niaz Ahmed Khan expressed sincere gratitude to the Chinese government and the ambassador for their cooperation in constructing a dormitory for female students.

He said that with China's wholehearted support, the project would be implemented within the shortest possible time, expressing hope that construction work would begin within the next one or two months.

In addition to this dormitory, several more residential halls will be constructed under broader development projects at the university, he said, adding that these initiatives would help ease the accommodation crisis faced by students.

Once implemented, the Bangladesh-China Friendship Hall will provide residential facilities for around 1,500 female students, and the estimated cost of the construction is Tk 244 crore, according to the Dhaka University Public Relations Office.​

 

[Saif]

China pledges continued support as Tarique stresses needs

Chinese ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen on Wednesday reaffirmed China’s commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation across a range of sectors, as Bangladesh Nationalist Party acting chairman Tarique Rahman said that addressing Bangladesh’s key challenges would require collective efforts and...

www.newagebd.net

China pledges continued support as Tarique stresses needs

Staff Correspondent 08 January, 2026, 00:46

Chinese ambassador to Bangladesh, Yao Wen, hands over a bouquet to BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman before holding a courtesy meeting with him at BNP chairperson’s political office at Ghulshan in Dhaka on Wednesday. | Focus Bangla photo

Chinese ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen on Wednesday reaffirmed China’s commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation across a range of sectors, as Bangladesh Nationalist Party acting chairman Tarique Rahman said that addressing Bangladesh’s key challenges would require collective efforts and international support.

The ambassador met Tarique at the BNP chairperson’s office at Gulshan in the capital Dhaka where the two sides exchanged views on bilateral cooperation, future development and broader political issues.


During the meeting, Tarique said that the two countries had to work together to address all the challenges Bangladesh was facing and that, in this regard, any kind of support was welcome, BNP acting chairman’s press secretary Saleh Shibli told New Age after the meeting.

After the meeting, BNP joint secretary general Humayun Kabir told reporters that the meeting was cordial in nature and included an exchange of pleasantries alongside discussions on prospective development programmes and cooperation initiatives.

During the meeting, the Chinese envoy reaffirmed that China would continue its partnership with Bangladesh in various sectors, with a focus on supporting economic growth, development and investment.

According to Humayun, the ambassador conveyed that China stands ready to work with the next elected government of Bangladesh and expressed his country’s support for a democratic political framework, while stressing that leadership decisions rest solely with the people of Bangladesh.

During the meeting, ambassador Wen also conveyed condolences on behalf of the Chinese government over the recent demise of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia.

BNP secretary general Miza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir was also present at the meeting.​

 

[Saif]

A 10-story hospital will be built in Nilphamari with China's grant

A specialised hospital with a thousand beds, funded by China, will be built in the Nilphamari district of northern Bangladesh. The Ministry of Health has announced that after examining and assessing applications and locations from at least 20 districts, including Thakurgaon, Rangpur, and...

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A 10-story hospital will be built in Nilphamari with China's grant

Arifur Rahman Dhaka
Updated: 24 Jan 2026, 21: 14

A specialised hospital with a thousand beds, funded by China, will be built in the Nilphamari district of northern Bangladesh.

The Ministry of Health has announced that after examining and assessing applications and locations from at least 20 districts, including Thakurgaon, Rangpur, and Panchagarh, this district was chosen for the hospital's construction.

The Health Secretary, Saidur Rahman, told Prothom Alo that there is no good hospital for healthcare in Nilphamari.

Therefore, this hospital, funded by China, is being built in Nilphamari. The Chinese government will provide the infrastructure, while the government will recruit personnel.

Project budget and approval

According to sources from the Ministry of Health and the Planning Commission, the total cost for the construction of this hospital is estimated to be Tk 22.92 billion. Of this, the Chinese government will give a grant of Tk 22.19 billion, with the remaining Tk 730 million provided by the government.


The project is expected to be approved at the upcoming last Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) meeting of the interim government next week. Once approved, the Directorate General of Health Services will implement the project by 2028.

There is no good hospital for healthcare in Nilphamari. Therefore, this hospital, funded by China, is being built in Nilphamari. The Chinese government will provide the infrastructure, while the government will recruit personnel.

The Health Secretary, Saidur Rahman

Two years ago, the Chinese government expressed interest in establishing a specialised hospital in Bangladesh. At that time, the Ministry of Health received several applications from various districts for the construction of the hospital.

People from Thakurgaon, Rangpur, and Panchagarh even held rallies and human chains, requesting that the "Bangladesh-China Friendship General Hospital" be built in their districts.

Additionally, people from other districts also raised demands for the hospital to be established in their areas.

There were extensive discussions on where the hospital should be located. Ultimately, the Ministry of Health included Nilphamari among the proposed districts.

What the project Includes

On 18 January, a Project Evaluation Committee (PEC) meeting was held at the Planning Commission regarding the "Bangladesh-China Friendship General Hospital" project.

According to meeting sources, the main building of the hospital under this project will be 10 stories high. There will be a separate 10-story building for professors and senior doctors to see patients, where the doctors will also reside.

Additionally, there will be a 6-story dormitory for nurses and a 10-story building for other staff. There will be a building for waste management, a service building, a helipad, and an automated ambulance system available at the hospital.

Reviewing the project documents revealed that Tk 9.45 billion will be spent on purchasing medical equipment, Tk 8.02 billion on building construction, and Tk 2.48 billion on solar panels, CCTV, and other ancillary works.

However, officials from the Ministry of Health have stated that the hospital's operating system has not yet been finalised.

The survey indicates that if the specialised hospital is operational, it could serve 6,000 to 9,500 people daily. The number of admitted in-patients could be 800 to 1,000. Out-patient services could see 1,800 to 2,350 patients daily, requiring about 1 to 1.5 thousand doctors, nurses, and staff.

Reasons for choosing Nilphamari

To determine which district would be suitable for the hospital, the Ministry of Health conducted a survey through the National Academy for Planning and Development (NAPD), a government institution.

The reasons for choosing Nilphamari based on that survey include the presence of an international airport and railway junction in the district.

The district has a comparatively higher population living below the poverty line. The number of patients suffering from diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, kidney issues, maternal and neonatal complications, dengue, and diarrhea is increasing in this district.

Being a border district, it exhibits a higher tendency for cold spells, floods, and river erosion. Economically, the district lags behind. Patients from Nilphamari and surrounding areas have to travel 50 to 70 kilometers to Rangpur Medical College Hospital, increasing time, cost, and risks for the patients.

Additionally, it was difficult to find government-owned land in other districts. More land than required is available in this district, eliminating the need for new land development. The district also has good connectivity with other regions. For these reasons, Nilphamari was chosen for the specialised hospital.

Residents of Thakurgaon held a human chain and other programmes demanding that the China-funded hospital be built in their district. Prothom Alo file photo

The site

The hospital will be constructed on 25 acres of vacant land at the site of an old textile mill in the municipal area of Nilphamari district. The Darwani Textile Mills was established on 108.52 acres of land in 1980, but its operations have gradually become limited.

Adjacent to it is a Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) camp, and nearby is the Uttara EPZ, where citizens from China, the investing country, work in multiple companies.

If the hospital is established at the proposed location, all the people in the area, including the Chinese nationals residing in the EPZ, will benefit from healthcare facilities.

According to sources from the Ministry of Health and the Planning Commission, the total cost for the construction of this hospital is estimated to be Tk 22.92 billion. Of this, the Chinese government will give a grant of Tk 22.19 billion, with the remaining Tk 730 million provided by the government.

Potential daily operations and services

The NAPD survey shows that the current population of Nilphamari district is 2,092,568. According to WHO standards, a hospital with 4,500 to 6,000 beds is necessary for this large population. Currently, the district has a 250-bed general hospital on which the people rely. The population of Nilphamari and the northern region is 17,610,956.

The survey indicates that if the specialised hospital is operational, it could serve 6,000 to 9,500 people daily. The number of admitted in-patients could be 800 to 1,000.

Out-patient services could see 1,800 to 2,350 patients daily, requiring about 1 to 1.5 thousand doctors, nurses, and staff.

The survey provided an estimate of potential patient expenses. It stated that the fee for visiting a doctor at an outpatient department would be Tk 50 to 100.

Specialist fees at outpatient departments would be Tk 100 to 300.

Emergency department fees would range from Tk 100 to 200. Preliminary blood and urine tests would cost between Tk 250 and 500.

The cost for specialised diagnostic tests could be between Tk 5,000 and 10,000.​

 

[Saif]

Chief Adviser emphasises continuing Dhaka-Beijing cooperation

He explained that the proposed health city would include hospitals, medical colleges, research centres, vaccine production facilities, pharmaceutical industries, and medical equipment hubs. “All health-related activities would be located in one city. People from India, Nepal, and Bhutan could...

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Chief Adviser emphasises continuing Dhaka-Beijing cooperation

BSS Dhaka
Published: 30 Jan 2026, 19: 15

A delegation from the China-Bangladesh Partnership Forum held a meeting with Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus at the State Guest House Jamuna on 28 January 2026. BSS

Reflecting the interim government’s relationship with the Chinese government, Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus expressed optimism that although a new government would soon take office, cooperation between Bangladesh and China must continue.

“In a few weeks, I will be out of this office and a new government will form, but the work between our two countries must go on,” he said.

The Chief Adviser made the remarks when a delegation from the China-Bangladesh Partnership Forum met him on Wednesday at the State Guest House Jamuna here, said the Chief Adviser’s Press Wing on Friday morning.

The delegation included senior Chinese academics, investors, and industry leaders from the biomedical, infrastructure, digital, and legal sectors.

Xin-yuan Fu, a leading Chinese biomedical scientist and Director of the West China School of Medicine at Sichuan University, commended Professor Yunus’s vision and said he was very much looking forward to working with Bangladeshi academics and contributing to improving people’s lives.

Andrew Zilong Wong, Senior Advisor to the Board of Directors of Walvax Biotechnology, and Yuqing Yao, Managing Director of Walvax Biotech (Singapore), shared their experience and interest in working with Bangladesh. Walvax has exported its vaccines to at least 22 countries.

The company has established local subsidiaries in the United Kingdom and Indonesia and is exploring the localisation of PCV and HPV vaccines. In Indonesia, it has signed an agreement with a business partner, indicating a move toward building local capacity.

The delegation also included Jinsong Wang, Vice President of the Robotics Society of Singapore; Yuan Feng, Chair of the Management Committee of Fordall Law Firm; Li Ran, Managing Director of Beijing Wutong Asset Management; Gao Zhipeng, Vice President for International Investment and Projects at China State Construction Engineering Corporation; Xu Tianzhao, Investment Director of China Hunan Construction Investment Group; Hua Jie, Vice President of China CCC Engineering Group; Chen Shujian, General Manager for Overseas Markets at PowerChina Overseas Investment Group; Professor Ma Xiaoyuan of Yunnan University; and Alex Wang Zekai, Secretary-General of the China-Bangladesh Partnership Forum.

They informed the Chief Adviser that they had engaged with several university students in Bangladesh on artificial intelligence and digitalisation and expressed admiration for the talent and potential of young Bangladeshi minds.

During the meeting, Professor Yunus recalled his long-standing relationship with China, which began through the microcredit movement.

“I had the opportunity to visit remote villages in China and see how people’s lives were being transformed. Later, the Chinese government launched its own programmes inspired by these principles,” the Chief Adviser said.

Recalling his visit to China in March, Professor Yunus said he had met President Xi Jinping during the visit.

“He told me that he had read my book and followed its principles. That was a very happy moment for me,” he said.

The delegation thanked Professor Yunus and discussed opportunities for collaboration in the health, infrastructure, and digital sectors.

Highlighting the interim government’s priorities, the Chief Adviser said health remains the top concern.

“Our highest priority is healthcare—how to integrate digital technology so that doctors and patients can connect effectively, medical histories can be preserved digitally, and appointments can be accessed easily,” he said.

He also emphasised the need for social business models in the pharmaceutical sector.

“Medicines cost pennies to produce, yet are sold for dollars. We want to encourage the establishment of social business pharmaceutical companies that focus on helping people, not just profits,” he said.

Reflecting on the COVID-19 pandemic, Professor Yunus recalled Bangladesh’s advocacy for patent-free vaccines.

“We raised our voices for patent-free vaccines and faced resistance. When the vote came, 10 countries abstained. They said rich countries would buy vaccines and donate them to poor nations. We said we don’t need gifts. People were dying while others were making money. This is a shame,” he said.

Professor Yunus also shared his vision of establishing a “health city” in the northern region of Bangladesh.

“During my visit to China, I proposed building a 1,000-bed international hospital in northern Bangladesh. It is a poor region but strategically located near India, Nepal, and Bhutan,” he said.

He explained that the proposed health city would include hospitals, medical colleges, research centres, vaccine production facilities, pharmaceutical industries, and medical equipment hubs.

“All health-related activities would be located in one city. People from India, Nepal, and Bhutan could also benefit by accessing quality healthcare facilities there,” he added.

Professor Yunus expressed his gratitude to the Government of China for its continued support and cooperation.

Lamiya Morshed, SDG Coordinator and Senior Secretary to the government, was also present at the meeting.​

 

[Saif]

China set to widen footprint in Bangladesh as India's ties decline

China has stepped up its investment and diplomatic outreach in Dhaka, most recently signing a defence deal to build a drone factory near Bangladesh's border with India.

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China set to widen footprint in Bangladesh as India's ties decline

ReutersDhaka
Updated: 10 Feb 2026, 19: 34

Members of "July Oikya", a platform of several organisations that took part in the July 2024 revolution, march to the Indian High Commission, as they demand the extradition of deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina and others who fled the country during and after the uprising, in Dhaka, Bangladesh on 17 December 2025. Reuters

China’s influence in Bangladesh, boosted by the 2024 ouster of New Delhi‑aligned leader Sheikh Hasina, is likely to deepen after this week's election, although politicians and analysts say India is too large a neighbour to be sidelined completely.

Bangladesh votes on 12 February and the two frontrunner parties have historically had far cooler ties with India than Hasina did during her uninterrupted 15‑year rule from 2009. Her Awami League party is now banned and she is in self-imposed exile in New Delhi.

Meanwhile, China has stepped up its investment and diplomatic outreach in Dhaka, most recently signing a defence deal to build a drone factory near Bangladesh's border with India.

Chinese Ambassador Yao Wen is often seen meeting Bangladeshi politicians, officials and journalists, according to the embassy's Facebook posts, discussing infrastructure projects worth billions of dollars and other cooperation between the two countries.

“People in Bangladesh see India as complicit with Sheikh Hasina’s crimes,” said Humaiun Kobir, foreign affairs adviser to leading prime ministerial candidate Tarique Rahman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).

“People will not accept building relations or doing business with a country that is harbouring a terrorist and allowing them to destabilise our country.”

Rahman himself has struck a more conciliatory note, telling Reuters last week: "We'll try to have friendship with all countries, but of course, protecting the interests of my people and my country."

Dhaka–Delhi ties have worsened in recent weeks, especially in cricket, the game fervently followed in both countries. A celebrated Bangladeshi bowler was dropped from an Indian Premier League team after pressure from Hindu groups following attacks on the Hindu minority in Bangladesh.

Dhaka retaliated by banning broadcasts of the league, scheduled for March–May. It also asked that its matches for the February-March men's cricket World Cup be moved from India to Sri Lanka, but was dropped from the tournament after the International Cricket Council rejected the request.

Both countries have curtailed entry visas to each other, and publicised engagements between Indian and Bangladeshi officials have been rare since Hasina’s fall. However, Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar met Rahman in Dhaka in December to offer India’s condolences on the death of his mother, former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia.

Bangladesh's interim government has repeatedly and unsuccessfully asked India to extradite Hasina, especially after a Dhaka court late last year sentenced her to death for ordering a deadly crackdown on the uprising. A United Nations report estimated that up to 1,400 people were killed and thousands wounded, although Hasina has denied ordering the killings.

'Steadily building influence'

Ahead of the election, the BNP and its closest rival, the Islamist Jamaat‑e‑Islami, have accused each other of courting foreign interests, with Jamaat alleging the BNP is too close to India, and the BNP pointing to Jamaat’s historic ties with Pakistan, India's old enemy.

“Not Dilli, not Pindi, Bangladesh before everything,” Rahman, the BNP leader, told a recent rally, referring to New Delhi and Pakistan’s military headquarters in Rawalpindi.

Indian officials have privately acknowledged that with the Awami League out of power, New Delhi must engage whoever forms the next government.

India's foreign ministry did not respond to a request for comment.

China has been Bangladesh’s largest trading partner for more than a decade, with annual bilateral trade hovering around $18 billion and imports of Chinese goods accounting for nearly 95 per cent of the total.

Chinese companies have also invested hundreds of millions of dollars in Bangladesh since Hasina left. Under Hasina, Indian conglomerates, including the Adani Group, expanded their business in Bangladesh, although no new deals have materialised since.

"China is steadily building its influence both in the open and behind the scenes, benefiting from the crisis in India-Bangladesh relations," said Constantino Xavier, a senior fellow at New Delhi think tank Centre for Social and Economic Progress.

"China has also been able to capitalise on declining U.S. engagement and Trump’s tariff war, positioning itself as a more credible and predictable economic partner."

Analysts say Bangladesh is expected to keep strengthening ties with China because it offers more substantial economic incentives, and, unlike Hindu‑majority India, does not get drawn into controversies involving mainly Muslim Bangladesh’s Hindu minority during periods of unrest.

“If Dhaka and New Delhi are unable to get things back on track, there will be more incentive for the next government in Bangladesh to go full steam ahead with Beijing,” said Thomas Kean of the International Crisis Group.

Does not mean severing ties with India

Analysts however say deepening engagement with China does not automatically shut out India.

“Bangladesh needs both China and India, and you have to think of it in pragmatic terms,” said Lailufar Yasmin of Dhaka University. “While ties with China may improve, any party that comes to power will not be imprudent enough to ignore India.”

Bangladesh, bordered by India on three sides and the Bay of Bengal to the south, relies on it for trade, transit and security cooperation, while New Delhi needs stable relations with Dhaka to manage its land border. Hasina had helped crack down on anti‑India insurgents based in Bangladesh.

Government data shows annual bilateral trade has remained stable at about $13.5 billion, dominated by Indian sales to Bangladesh, despite the political rupture. Adani has also increased power supplies to Bangladesh in recent months to ease shortages, even though Dhaka has criticised tariffs negotiated under Hasina as too high.

While India helped Bangladesh win independence from Pakistan in 1971, long‑standing grievances include water‑sharing disputes, border killings and resentment over what many Bangladeshis see as India legitimising Hasina’s unpopular rule.

Leaders of the National Citizen Party, a Gen Z‑backed group aligned with Jamaat, have taken a hard line on India.

“It’s not just election rhetoric,” NCP chief Nahid Islam told Reuters. “New Delhi’s hegemony is deeply felt among young people, it’s one of the main issues of the election.”​

 

[Bilal9]

Tarique Rahman’s BNP makes big promises to China and Pakistan with BRI at centre; might affect India’s socio-economic and defence concerns​

Story by support@india.com (India.com News Desk)

The BNP has made significant promises to China and Pakistan.© Tahir Qureshi

New Delhi: Tarique Rahman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is set to become the next Prime Minister of Bangladesh. However, even before his inauguration, the BNP had made significant promises to China and Pakistan. The BNP stated that it looks forward to "enhancing cooperation with China in trade, investment, infrastructure, and connectivity." However, the BNP's biggest promise was regarding the BRI. The BNP stated that it is ready to work with China on ongoing development projects in Bangladesh, including BRI projects.

BNP's promises​

The BNP made these promises in response to a tweet by a Chinese spokesperson congratulating Tarique Rahman and his party, the BNP, on their victory in the Bangladesh elections. China, in its congratulatory message, stated that it, as a neighbour and friend, supports Bangladesh's domestic political strength. Following this tweet, the BNP made several promises to China.

BNP's big promise regarding China's BRI project​

The BNP wrote on the social media platform X, "Bangladesh welcomes cooperation (with China) that advances national interests, strengthens economic resilience, and delivers tangible benefits to both our peoples. We look forward to enhancing cooperation in trade, investment, infrastructure, and connectivity, ensuring that ongoing and future initiatives, including the Belt and Road projects, are aligned with Bangladesh's development priorities and long-term economic stability."

About Pakistan​

The BNP also made a major statement regarding Pakistan. Responding to Shehbaz Sharif's congratulatory message, it said, "Bangladesh acknowledges the recent positive momentum in our relations and is ready to foster a forward-looking relationship with Pakistan based on mutual respect, sovereign equality, and constructive dialogue. We look forward to exploring avenues of practical cooperation that contribute to regional peace, stability, and shared progress in South Asia."

China expanding foothold in Bangladesh​

It's worth noting that since the fall of Sheikh Hasina's government, China has rapidly expanded its footprint in Bangladesh. China has invested billions of dollars in the BRI project in Bangladesh, but Sheikh Hasina has always taken India's concerns into account. For example, China constructed the Padma Bridge. Furthermore, China also constructed the Karnaphuli Tunnel, the country's first underwater tunnel. China has assisted in the construction of 27 power plants in Bangladesh. So far, 12 roads and 21 bridges in Bangladesh have been built with Chinese loans and technology. Furthermore, China is investing heavily in Bangladesh's telecom network (upgrading from 2.5G to 4G/5G) and data centers.


Between March 2025 and January 2026, China issued loans worth $2.1 billion to Bangladesh. This brings China's total investment in Bangladesh to over $42 billion. Furthermore, given Bangladesh's economic situation, China has agreed to ease the terms of BRI loans. According to reports, China has extended tariff-free access for 99% of Bangladesh's products until 2028, which will boost Bangladesh's exports. The two countries have also collaborated extensively in the defense sector.