Bangladesh deepens the links of China with Teesta, Zes, defense talks

Bangladesh has deepened its commitment to China by welcoming Beijing's participation in key infrastructure projects, including the Teesta river project, a special economic area in Chittagong and the expansion of the port of Mongla.

The discussions also covered the potential acquisition of Chinese fighter planes, alongside Dhakas approval of the World Initiatives of President Xi Jinpings.

Bangladesh in the Chinese camp

This marks the significant change from Bangladesh to Beijing during the mandate of chief advisor Muhammad Yunus.

Muhammad Yunus, leading the interim government of Bangladesh from the Sheikh Hasinas Wister last year, made a four -day visit to the first bilateral foreign trip to Chinahis as chief advisor.

On March 28, he met Chinese President Xi Jinping in the great people of the Beijing people, where they discussed the support of Chinas for various infrastructure initiatives and connectivity projects connecting Kunming to the Bangladais ports.

The visit led to the signing of nine agreements, including those related to economic and technical cooperation.

Yunus asked for a visit to India

Before his visit to China, Yunuss’s media advisor Shafiqul Alam told The Hindu that Yunus had initially sought to visit India, but there was no response from New Delhi.

His trip to China, with his main dishes to remember, is before the top of Bimstec in Thailand, where he will share the platform with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Bangladesh had officially requested a meeting between Yunus and Modi on the sidelines of the Bimstec summit, but India has confirmed any commitment.

Although an official meeting seems unlikely, it can be difficult for Modi to completely avoid informal interactions with Yunus during the summit in a limited circle.

India-Bangladesh tensions

The tensions between India and Bangladesh have persisted since August 2024, Dacca expressing the dissatisfaction of what it perceives as exaggerated affirmations of New Delhi concerning the attacks on minorities, in particular the Hindus.

Many in the political sphere of Bangladesh believe that India has played a role in maintaining the prolonged rule of Hasinas without credible elections.

The last visit of a Bangladais leader in China was Hasinas in July 2024, shortly before the demonstrations led by the students forced him to leave his functions and take refuge in India.

Hasina era

While Hasina was generally considered to be Pro-IndianShe also maintained close links with Beijing, in particular in defense cooperation.

A comparison of the joint declarations of the visits of Hasinas and Yunuss reveals key differences in political orientation.

A notable change in the joint declaration of 2025 is the explicit reception of the Bangladesh of China's participation in the management and overall catering project of the Teesta River (TRCMRP).

During the last visit from Hasinas to Delhi in June 2024, India announced its intention to send a technical team to Bangladesh to assess the Teesta project, aimed at countering the interest of China.

Teesta project

The project, estimated at $ 1 billion, includes the construction of a reservoir, the deepening of the river bed and the construction of embankments and satellite cities.

Bangladesh initially asked for a loan of $ 725 million from China, but Beijing hesitated on financial viability problems.

India has opposed Chinese involvement, considering it as a strategic decision to extend the influence of Beijing in Bangladesh, where Chinese companies already manage major infrastructure projects.

After her visit to China in 2024, Hasina said that even if Beijing was willing to undertake the Teesta project in Bangladesh, she preferred India to execute it.

However, in February 2025, Syed Rizwana Hasan, interim advisor of Bangladesh, announced an extension of the deadline for Chinas Power Construction Corporation to complete the project master plan by 2026, with an initial project expected by the end of 2024.

Water resources management

Water resources management was a priority for Yunus, as he asked for assistance from Chinas to formulate a 50 -year master plan for Bangladesh rivers.

In addition, the two nations have agreed to initiate a new series of maritime cooperation discussions.

The joint declaration has emphasized collaboration in hydrological forecasts, flood control, attenuation of disasters, dredging of rivers and the sharing of technologies.

Bangladesh-Chine

Bangladesh and China have also signed an implementation plan under the memorandum of understanding on the exchange of hydrological information for the Yarlung Zangbo-Jamuna river, an important step by considering Chinese plans for a mega dam on the Yarlung Zangbo in Tibet.

Bangladesh has also invited China to participate in Mongla Port Modernization Project and the Chinese Economic and Industrial Zone (CEIZ) in Chittagong.

According to the official Facebook page of Yunuss, Bangladesh obtained $ 2.1 billion in Chinese investments, loans and subsidies for various projects, including $ 400 million for the port of Mongla, $ 350 million for CEIZ and $ 150 million for technical assistance.

In addition, nearly 30 Chinese companies have hired $ 1 billion in CEIZ investments.

Chinese eyes Bangladeshid

China has been watching the Mongla port project for years, but progress was slow.

The new ZES proposal led by Chinese in the chattogram is a new development, although it remains uncertain if the interim government can navigate in the complexities of the acquisition of land in its limited mandate.

India also agreed to develop a ZEs in Mongla thanks to a government agreement to government in 2015, but the project never materialized. Similarly, Adani was selected to develop a ZES in chattogram in 2019, but it seems to have been abandoned.

Bangladesh and China highlighted the need to start negotiations for a free trade agreement, an idea that had previously been considered under the Hasinas administration.

Bangladesh supports China

On the main geopolitical concerns of Chinas, Bangladesh has shown stronger support than before. While China's policy was reaffirmed in 2024 and 2025, the last joint declaration is explicitly opposed “independence of Taiwan”.

The joint declaration of March 2025 also presents a more robust approval of the global initiatives of Chinas.

Unlike the 2024 Declaration, which simply recognized the discussions, the new declaration explicitly highlights the assessment of Bangladesh for the Global Development Initiative (GDI) and recognizes the importance of the Global Security Initiative (GSI) and the Global Civilization Initiative (GCI).

During Hasinas' mandate, China refrained from commenting on the internal governance of Bangladesh.

This time, however, the joint declaration explicitly expresses Beijing's support for the interim government by effectively exercising governance, maintaining unity and stability and directing Bangladesh towards development and prosperity.

50 years of diplomatic links

While Bangladesh and China mark 50 years of diplomatic links, 2025 has been designated as “the year of exchanges of people in China-Bangladesh.

In addition, China has promised Bangladian patients in search of medical treatment in the province of Yunnan, especially since India has reduced visa operations due to safety problems.

To improve the collaboration of health care, China has also announced its intention to establish a physiotherapy and rehabilitation center assisted by Robot in Bangladesh.