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PM’S CHINA VISIT: Teesta project, Padma barrage high on agenda
Dhaka is once again going to discuss Beijing’s possible cooperation in the implementation of the proposed Teesta River Comprehensive Management and Restoration Project beside the construction of a barrage on the River Padma during...
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PM’S CHINA VISIT: Teesta project, Padma barrage high on agenda
Staff Correspondent 20 June, 2026, 23:35
Foreign affairs secretary Asad Alam Siam addresses a press conference on prime minister Tarique Rahman’s visit to Malaysia and China at the ministry in Dhaka on Saturday. | Focus Bangla photo
Dhaka is once again going to discuss Beijing’s possible cooperation in the implementation of the proposed Teesta River Comprehensive Management and Restoration Project beside the construction of a barrage on the River Padma during prime minister Tarique Rahman’s four-day official visit to China this week.
Both India and China have already shown interest in the much-talked-about project over the Teesta, the trans-boundary river originating in Sikkim of India and flowing across Bangladesh’s north.
China is also willing to extend technical and financial supports for the Padma barrage construction and has completed feasibility studies on the development projects over the two rivers flowing from India, according to officials.
‘Comprehensive water management — the Teesta project in particular—would be discussed in detail during the prime minister’s visit to China from June 23 to June 26,’ foreign secretary Asad Alam Siam told a press conference at his foreign ministry office on Saturday on prime minister Tarique Rahman’s back-to-back visit to Malaysia and China.
He said that the prime minister’s visit to China would deepen the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.
Asked about Bangladesh’s expectation about Chinese financial assistances for various development projects, the secretary said that the top leaders discuss possibilities of cooperation between them during such a visit.
Among other issues, Dhaka and Beijing would discuss defence cooperation, he added.
Leading a 27-member delegation, Tarique, also chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, leaves Dhaka for Kuala Lumpur today for his two-day maiden tour abroad after becoming the country’s prime minister on February 17 following his party’s victory in the February 12 parliamentary polls.
Responding to a question, the foreign secretary said that Dhaka and Beijing would also discuss possible cooperation in the construction of a barrage on the River Padma at Pangsha in Rajbari planned by the Bangladesh government.
About the PM’s trip to Malaysia, the secretary said that Bangladesh would seek to reopen the Southeast Asian country’s labour market for its workers, which has remained suspended since June 2024.
Asad Alam said that the Bangladesh prime minister would request his Malaysian counterpart Anwar Ibrahim to recruit more Bangladeshis for Malaysia, a major destination for Bangladeshi migrant workers, at the top-level meeting in Putrajaya.
Furthermore, Bangladesh would seek the cooperation of Malaysia and other Southeast Asian nations in resolving the Rohingya crisis, he added.
At least three instruments, including a memorandum of understanding on cultural affairs and an exchange of note on counter-terrorism, are likely to be signed with Malaysia during the visit, said foreign ministry officials
As for the China visit, the Bangladesh prime minister, leading a 28-member delegation to Beijing, is scheduled to meet Chinese president Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of People before concluding his China visit on June 26.
Tarique would hold a bilateral meeting with Chinese premier Li Qiang in Beijing on June 25, said Asad Alam, adding that at least 13 memorandums of understanding, two agreements, an action plan and a protocol were expected to be signed with China during the visit.
The documents cover green energy, electric vehicle manufacturing, development assistances in education, agriculture and trade and investment, development of Chinese Economic and Industrial Zone, and media cooperation among other areas, officials said.
Another MoU on the establishment of a 1000-bed general hospital in Bangladesh with Chinese assistances is also likely to be signed in Beijing.
During the visit of Bangladesh’s interim government chief adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus to China in March 2025, Bangladesh in a major development welcomed Chinese companies to participate in the Teesta management project as the top leaders of the two friendly countries held a bilateral meeting in Beijing.
The two countries that time agreed to strengthen cooperation in the areas of hydrological forecasting, flood prevention, and water resources development besides economic and technical cooperation.
The prime minister’s forthcoming visit would also follow up the issues agreed upon during the talks between Professor Yunus and Chinese president Xi Jinping, according to officials.
China earlier expressed its readiness to provide assistance in the implementation of the Teesta project, which has been hanging in the balance as India has showed its willingness to support the same.
During the Sheikh Hasina regime, India in May 2024 expressed its willingness to support the mega development project on the Teesta inside Bangladesh although it has long been foot-dragging on the Teesta water-sharing treaty with Dhaka, adversely affecting the lives and livelihoods of the people in the country’s northern region.
During the visit to China, Tarique Rahman will attend the World Economic Forum’s 17th annual meeting of the New Champions also known as Summer Davos Forum in the Chinese city of Dalian.
Staff Correspondent 20 June, 2026, 23:35
Foreign affairs secretary Asad Alam Siam addresses a press conference on prime minister Tarique Rahman’s visit to Malaysia and China at the ministry in Dhaka on Saturday. | Focus Bangla photo
Dhaka is once again going to discuss Beijing’s possible cooperation in the implementation of the proposed Teesta River Comprehensive Management and Restoration Project beside the construction of a barrage on the River Padma during prime minister Tarique Rahman’s four-day official visit to China this week.
- Meet with Xi on June 26
- Dhaka, Beijing to sign 17 instruments
- Comprehensive water management to be discussed
- Dhaka to request KL to reopen labour market for Bangladeshis
- MoUs on cultural affairs, exchange of note on counter-terrorism likely
Both India and China have already shown interest in the much-talked-about project over the Teesta, the trans-boundary river originating in Sikkim of India and flowing across Bangladesh’s north.
China is also willing to extend technical and financial supports for the Padma barrage construction and has completed feasibility studies on the development projects over the two rivers flowing from India, according to officials.
‘Comprehensive water management — the Teesta project in particular—would be discussed in detail during the prime minister’s visit to China from June 23 to June 26,’ foreign secretary Asad Alam Siam told a press conference at his foreign ministry office on Saturday on prime minister Tarique Rahman’s back-to-back visit to Malaysia and China.
He said that the prime minister’s visit to China would deepen the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.
Asked about Bangladesh’s expectation about Chinese financial assistances for various development projects, the secretary said that the top leaders discuss possibilities of cooperation between them during such a visit.
Among other issues, Dhaka and Beijing would discuss defence cooperation, he added.
Leading a 27-member delegation, Tarique, also chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, leaves Dhaka for Kuala Lumpur today for his two-day maiden tour abroad after becoming the country’s prime minister on February 17 following his party’s victory in the February 12 parliamentary polls.
Responding to a question, the foreign secretary said that Dhaka and Beijing would also discuss possible cooperation in the construction of a barrage on the River Padma at Pangsha in Rajbari planned by the Bangladesh government.
About the PM’s trip to Malaysia, the secretary said that Bangladesh would seek to reopen the Southeast Asian country’s labour market for its workers, which has remained suspended since June 2024.
Asad Alam said that the Bangladesh prime minister would request his Malaysian counterpart Anwar Ibrahim to recruit more Bangladeshis for Malaysia, a major destination for Bangladeshi migrant workers, at the top-level meeting in Putrajaya.
Furthermore, Bangladesh would seek the cooperation of Malaysia and other Southeast Asian nations in resolving the Rohingya crisis, he added.
At least three instruments, including a memorandum of understanding on cultural affairs and an exchange of note on counter-terrorism, are likely to be signed with Malaysia during the visit, said foreign ministry officials
As for the China visit, the Bangladesh prime minister, leading a 28-member delegation to Beijing, is scheduled to meet Chinese president Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of People before concluding his China visit on June 26.
Tarique would hold a bilateral meeting with Chinese premier Li Qiang in Beijing on June 25, said Asad Alam, adding that at least 13 memorandums of understanding, two agreements, an action plan and a protocol were expected to be signed with China during the visit.
The documents cover green energy, electric vehicle manufacturing, development assistances in education, agriculture and trade and investment, development of Chinese Economic and Industrial Zone, and media cooperation among other areas, officials said.
Another MoU on the establishment of a 1000-bed general hospital in Bangladesh with Chinese assistances is also likely to be signed in Beijing.
During the visit of Bangladesh’s interim government chief adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus to China in March 2025, Bangladesh in a major development welcomed Chinese companies to participate in the Teesta management project as the top leaders of the two friendly countries held a bilateral meeting in Beijing.
The two countries that time agreed to strengthen cooperation in the areas of hydrological forecasting, flood prevention, and water resources development besides economic and technical cooperation.
The prime minister’s forthcoming visit would also follow up the issues agreed upon during the talks between Professor Yunus and Chinese president Xi Jinping, according to officials.
China earlier expressed its readiness to provide assistance in the implementation of the Teesta project, which has been hanging in the balance as India has showed its willingness to support the same.
During the Sheikh Hasina regime, India in May 2024 expressed its willingness to support the mega development project on the Teesta inside Bangladesh although it has long been foot-dragging on the Teesta water-sharing treaty with Dhaka, adversely affecting the lives and livelihoods of the people in the country’s northern region.
During the visit to China, Tarique Rahman will attend the World Economic Forum’s 17th annual meeting of the New Champions also known as Summer Davos Forum in the Chinese city of Dalian.
