Throughout his go to to China, Bangladesh’s interim chief Muhammad Yunus made a direct pitch to Beijing: place Bangladesh as your key regional accomplice for manufacturing, logistics and commerce.
“Seven states of jap India — the seven sisters — they’re landlocked. They haven’t any approach to attain out to the ocean. We’re the one guardian of the ocean,” Yunus stated, inviting deeper Chinese language financial engagement by means of Bangladesh.
“Construct issues, produce issues, market issues. Nepal has hydropower, Bhutan has hydropower, we are able to convey to our function. You may produce in Bangladesh and promote in China,” he informed officers.
Economist and member of the Financial Advisory Council to the Prime Minister, Sanjeev Sanyal, questioned the logic behind invoking India’s inner geography in an financial pitch to China.
“Attention-grabbing that Yunus is making a public attraction to the Chinese language on the premise that 7 states in India are landlocked. China is welcome to spend money on Bangladesh, however what precisely is the importance of seven Indian states being landlocked?” Sanyal posted.
The feedback got here as Bangladesh signed 9 agreements with China after Yunus’ assembly with President Xi Jinping. The offers cowl financial and technical cooperation, infrastructure, media, tradition and well being.
Bangladesh additionally welcomed Chinese language participation within the Teesta River Complete Administration and Restoration Venture — a plan beforehand linked to India below the Hasina authorities — and the Mongla Port modernisation initiative.
Yunus used the assembly to focus on the 2024 scholar protests that led to regime change in Dhaka and urged China to play a “better position” in guaranteeing peace and stability. He additionally requested Chinese language help for water administration, calling China the “grasp of water administration,” and sought a 50-year plan from Beijing.
Xi described Bangladesh as a “reliable neighbour” and confirmed zero-tariff entry for Bangladeshi items till 2028. He proposed negotiations on a Free Commerce and Funding Settlement and promised better funding help.
Yunus additional referred to as for a discount in Chinese language mortgage rates of interest from 3% to 1–2% and a waiver of dedication charges. He pitched Bangladesh as a relocation base for Chinese language producers trying to offset U.S. tariffs.
China has hosted a number of delegations from Dhaka in current months, together with advisers, opposition leaders, and hardline non secular teams. Yunus is now scheduled to attend the BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok, the place he has requested a gathering with Prime Minister Narendra Modi — which India has not but confirmed.
As Beijing expands its position within the area, Yunus’ positioning of Bangladesh indicators a transparent shift in Dhaka’s diplomatic and financial alignment.
