Bangladesh News Bangladesh - China Relation

[Isa Khan]

The eastern Chinese province of Jiangxi has officially opened its first dedicated air cargo route to Bangladesh.

On Tuesday (15 October) an all-cargo plane carrying 55 tons of clothing and general merchandise took off from Nanchang City, heading for Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, reports Bastille Post.

The new air route will operate two flights weekly, primarily transporting general cargo, cross-border e-commerce products, and edible aquatic goods. This service is expected to meet the growing demand for air cargo between Jiangxi and Bangladesh, added the report.

The launch of this route is anticipated to boost trade between Jiangxi and South Asian countries while providing more efficient and convenient logistics for economic and trade partnerships, particularly within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative.

China's Jiangxi Province opens its first air cargo route to Bangladesh

The eastern Chinese province of Jiangxi has officially opened its first dedicated air cargo route to Bangladesh. On Tuesday (15 October) an all-cargo plane carrying 55 tons of clothing and general merchandise took off from Nanchang City, heading for Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, reports...

www.tbsnews.net

 

[Isa Khan]

Since 2009, China has become the largest supplier of arms to Dhaka. At one point, estimates indicated that Chinese weapons made up 82 percent of the BAF’s total inventory. These include Ming-class diesel electric attack submarines, Shadhinota-class C13B corvettes, MBT-2000 Type 90-II and VT-5 light tanks, HQ-7 short-range surface-to-air missiles, and dozens of F-7BGI fighter interceptors, among other arms and equipment. Dhaka’s tank inventory is entirely of Chinese manufacture, showing its reliance on Beijing for its armaments. Beijing has also given Dhaka permission to build a variety of Chinese small and light weapons.

Currently, Bangladesh is the world’s second-biggest purchaser of Chinese weapons, with two-thirds of its arms supplied by Beijing. Credit and soft loans facilitate these acquisitions.

Using Chinese technology, Bangladesh inaugurated a new naval base, BNS Sheikh Hasina, near Pekua. This was the Bangladesh Navy’s first dedicated submarine base. Beijing has since regularly facilitated officer training for the BAF to increase people-to-people ties in the defense sectors. This year, both countries conducted joint military drills, codenamed “Golden Friendship-2024.” This counterterrorism exercise was the first-ever BAF-PLA joint exercise. Along with anti-hijacking exercises, the collaborative effort practiced eliminating terrorist training camps.

As their cooperation grows to encompass joint exercises, notably in the naval domain, personnel training programs aimed at improving public awareness, and the construction of military infrastructure, the defense relationship between the two countries is transforming.

Keeping the Military Bond Strong

Several factors are behind Beijing’s successful defense cooperation and military diplomacy with Dhaka. Apart from the positive views of China that Bangladeshi officers derived from the Pakistan era, regime type, availability, cost, and geopolitical balance issues are substantial factors behind the emboldened defense ties.

China has been keen to sell arms irrespective of the recipient country’s internal political situation. This was one of the reasons why Hasina, whose regime stood accused of corruption, money laundering, undermining democratic systems, human rights abuses, and enforced disappearances, received arms from Beijing more readily than from any Western suppliers. Even the previous regime of Khaleda Zia, which faced severe corruption allegations and had connections with extremist outfits, embraced Beijing’s arms sales.

China also sells arms at a cheaper cost than other countries and agrees to sell sophisticated weapons like drones, long-range missiles, and fighter jets. High-end technology at relatively low costs is desirable for a country like Bangladesh. The military allocates a weighty portion of its military budget to personnel salaries, subsidies, pensions, and development initiatives. Therefore, for its new acquisitions, the BAF aims to purchase current equipment within a restricted budget.

The final reason for acquiring Chinese-made arms is geopolitical balance. Regardless of Bangladesh’s regime, India holds substantial geopolitical leverage over the country. Both share the world’s fifth-longest land border and close economic ties. Dhaka’s robust defense cooperation relations with Beijing functioned as a strategic counterbalance, upholding the official foreign policy stance of friendship towards all. These factors served as the foundation for the forging of strong bilateral defense relations between the two countries.

Bangladesh’s Contemporary Strategic Needs

In addition to its internal problems, Bangladesh faces daunting external ones. The Indian media is increasingly portraying Dhaka as a new threat to national security, causing growing concern. Recently, during high-level meetings of Indian Armed Forces commanders, Rajnath Singh, the defense minister of India, declared his military readiness for war, mentioning the situation in Bangladesh alongside the ongoing wars in Gaza and Ukraine. New Delhi is also concerned about the possibility of Dhaka disbanding Hasina’s security cooperation with India. The Indian Border Security Force has a long history of border killings, making the situation considerably more tense.

Meanwhile, the situation in Myanmar, Bangladesh’s other neighbor, remains ambiguous. Dhaka has yet to account for the shift of power in Myanmar’s Chin and Rakhine states, which border Bangladesh. Two main concerns relate to Myanmar. The Kuki Chin National Front, a new insurgent group in Bangladesh’s Chittagong Hill Tracts, is allegedly taking shelter in Myanmar and has received training from Burmese rebels.

The motivation of the Arakan Army (AA), which currently controls more than half of Rakhine State, is another cause for concern. Growing tensions between the AA and the long-persecuted Rohingya, epitomized by the recent attacks on Rohingya in Buthidaung, are troublesome for Dhaka. Armed Rohingya groups like the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army and Rohingya Solidarity Organization are allegedly cooperating with Myanmar’s military, which only adds heat to the prevailing ethnic tensions. Moreover, there has been a resurgence of Rohingya incursions into Bangladesh, compounding the already chaotic conditions in the existing Rohingya refugee camps.

Regional developments appear to have led Dhaka to recognize that the BAF requires further upgrading to mitigate risks and escalation from both state and non-state actors. The BAF will need to acquire multiple updated systems to improve strategic deterrence.

Combating insurgency and conventional forces necessitates the adoption of assault helicopters and drones by the Army. These systems can carry out joint surveillance operations and accurately reveal the enemy’s positions and movements when paired with cutting-edge reconnaissance vehicles. To deter and prevent neighboring states like Myanmar from regularly breaching Dhaka’s airspace, as it has done multiple times, the Air Force will need multi-role combat aircraft and medium- and long-range surface-to-air missiles. A more capable Navy, armed with diesel-electric submarines and frigates, could better patrol the country’s seas and safeguard its rich maritime resources.

China’s thus has an ideal opportunity to showcase its arsenal to the new interim government, just as it did when Hasina assumed office. Dhaka may consider buying arms from Beijing to bypass geopolitical problems and security concerns. This scenario is probable in light of the present circumstances and the over 10 percent drop in Bangladesh’s military procurement budgets this year. Meanwhile, the wars in Gaza and Ukraine are extending delivery times and limiting the quantity of Western defense exports, further giving China’s defense industry an advantage.

Beijing is likely to offer Dhaka a plethora of weapons and systems, including J-10C multirole combat aircraft, Z-10 attack helicopters, Wing Loong 1 attack drones, HQ-9 surface-to-air missiles, Yuan-class submarines, Type 054 frigates, and likely more.

As India’s influence diminishes and Western countries, particularly the United States, lack incentives such as low cost, rapid delivery, less accountability, and a legacy of familiarity, Beijing appears to have a potential advantage. This is true even though China lacks high-quality, battle-tested weapons, given that its military has not seen combat since 1979. As a result, it is not surprising that the defense partnership between Beijing and Dhaka will strengthen in the coming days, with the former choosing to compromise quality over national security. That, in turn, presents an opportunity for China to enhance its influence in Bangladesh.

Why Bangladesh-China Defense Ties Are Poised to Strengthen After the Monsoon Revolution

Beijing is keenly aware of the opportunities arising from the ouster of PM Sheikh Hasina, and will seek to strengthen its existing defense diplomacy with Dhaka.

thediplomat.com

 

[Isa Khan]

Most likely interim govt won't do anything but now that Hasina/BAL is gone, there’s high chance defence cooperation with China will go back to previous state, specially if BNP forms new elected govt.

It was a big mistake to completely diversify military procurement from China, specially for BAF. Hasina couldn't take pressure & gave millions of Rohingyas shelter. She blamed China for her own mess & Bangladesh military has to suffer for it.

She also created an illusion about country's economy and wasted time and resources in a stupid wild goose chase for expensive MRCA like EFT, Rafale which never seemed feasible and logical.

We'll CERTAINLY need both number & quality to overhaul and modernise our military. Specially for BAF. BD needs to modernise it’s military without putting pressure on it’s economy first before getting expensive high-tech western equipment.

So, it's time to go back to China. For incompetent pathetic BAF I believe we can afford $1 billion for 36 J-10C with Chinese weapons or more JF-17 Block 3 with Turkish-Chinese weapons combos & MRO. BAF can also opt LY-80 SAM & Z-10 attack helicopter.

Navy should opt more Durjoy & Durgom class LPC & at least two additional Type-56. Customized Type-54A could replace all of our old frigates. BN could try to get Z-9C helicopter again.

Army should try to get SY-400 ballistic missile, amphibious tank.

Sometimes it feels like Hasina deliberately kept our military weak. Don't know if I talked about this before but I had this feeling specially the MRCA drama kept going on.

Like I said before we could've easily get 36 J-10CE if we wanted, I noticed then Hasina is only building bases, buying small & auxiliary equipment while avoiding purchasing major important items.

Wasting time on building basic trainer instead of JV for Korean/Turkish/Chinese trainer with tandem cockpit, buying new MRCA or MR-SAM.

Building small patrol craft, auxiliaries, putting focus on BCG while not getting enough surface combatants with AA, ASW capabilities, ASW helicopter saw no progress, ASW LPC program was cancelled & no progress on developing CDDL or KSY to build bigger ship.

We could argue that navy's money was going for two new bases, SAM wasn't coming because of air defence integration but can't find any excuses for J-10/FA-50.

While other countries which have more money than us trying to balance both quality & quantity, we were so obsessed with quality, pursuing expensive fighters.

I kept blaming COVID-19, forex crisis while Hasina/BAL was actually looting us even from submarine base project. The final nail in the coffin was buying from India on credit. Also the reports about corrupted military officials & planting RAW elements inside military also turned Hasina/BAL into a national threat.

Anyway no matter the excuses I couldn’t shake that odd feeling. Despite the damage she did, it seems undeniable that Hasina's contribution on military is still greater than any other previous rulers IMO.

We saw how BNP-Jamaat supporters kept criticizing Hasina’s military development even though BNP's own record wasn’t that great compared to BAL's. It'll be really interesting to see what BNP-Jamaat led govt does if they come to power.

 

[Afif]

I kept blaming COVID-19, forex crisis while Hasina/BAL was actually looting us even from submarine base project. The final nail in the coffin was buying from India on credit. Also the reports about corrupted military officials & planting RAW elements inside military also turned Hasina/BAL into a national threat.

Anyway no matter the excuses I couldn’t shake that odd feeling. Despite the damage she did, it seems undeniable that Hasina's contribution on military is still greater than any other previous rulers IMO.

Her damage to the armed forces as institution is greater her contribution regarding some meterial purchases and expansion.

We saw how BNP-Jamaat supporters kept criticizing Hasina’s military development even though BNP's own record wasn’t that great compared to BAL's. It'll be really interesting to see what BNP-Jamaat led govt does if they come to power.

When BNP government was in power, GDP was $69 billions. And in 2021 it was $400 billions. Why do you expect the same level of development?

 

[Isa Khan]

Her damage to the armed forces as institution is greater her contribution regarding some meterial purchases and expansion.

Yes, I mentioned that already. I doubt her damage will be assessed and mended during the interim govt's tenure. New pro-Chinese, pro-Pakistani govt could counter the damage with help from ISI, Chinese intelligence.

But credit should be given to her if she deserves. Material purchases and expansions obviously matter since BD military is poorly equipped, always have technological gap against it's potential threats, lacking sufficient firepower & taking too long to procure anything.

I am not only talking about Hasina's work in last 16 years but even before that means BAL's work since 71. Like it or not data favors BAL.

When BNP government was in power, GDP was $69 billions. And in 2021 it was $400 billions. Why do you expect the same level of development?

That's no excuse to jeopardize the national security further by decommissioning BNS BB while failing to secure 2nd hand Lupo, Sauro/Type-206 and cancelling the Mig-29 deal while trying to sell the rest and getting obsolete F-7BG. Hasina still tried to buy F-16 then.

I didn’t say I expect them to contribute like Hasina did in her last 16 years. I was talking about what they did during their tenures and compare all of their efforts.

It's a bit surprising that Hasina managed to secure Saudi fund to buy BNS BB while BNP-Jamaat is supposed to have warmer relationship with the Arabs.

 

[Isa Khan]

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1171004787622886

Highlights:

• Bangladesh building first ocean satellite station for real-time coastal data
• Enables cyclone forecasts within 15 minutes using Chinese satellite data
• Reduces reliance on foreign agencies for weather and marine forecasts
• Supports sustainable fishing, oil exploration, and marine resource management

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To enhance Bangladesh's own capabilities in predicting natural disasters, the country has begun construction of its first Ocean Satellite Ground Station, which will allow real-time data collection from Chinese satellites, with the Bay of Bengal as the central focus.

The station will be able to collect and model detailed information about the coastal region within 10 to 15 minutes, enabling faster and more reliable forecasting. It will also play a key role in managing marine resources.

According to officials, the project is being jointly implemented by the University of Chittagong and China's Second Institute of Oceanography. The Tk70 crore project is based in the university's Faculty of Marine Sciences, with the Chinese institution contributing Tk60 crore worth of technical and mechanical support. The university will operate the station with its own personnel, researchers, security management and in-kind services.

In December last year, the University of Chittagong signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with China's Second Institute of Oceanography. The ground station's construction was officially started on 26 March this year at the Faculty of Marine Sciences.

To get forecasts of cyclones and storm surges, Bangladesh currently relies on satellite data from foreign institutions like National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) of the United States, and India Meteorological Department (IMD).

It takes 20–30 hours to analyse the data received from these institutions to deliver forecasts — a time-consuming and dependent process.

Project coordinators stated that once completed, the target is for Bangladesh to achieve financial self-sufficiency by 2035, transform into South Asia's leading marine data hub, and become a climate adaptation role model. "SGSMRS 2035 Master Plan" is being developed, which will support attaining the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by aligning with China's Belt and Road Initiative.

Dr Mohammad Muslem Uddin, professor of oceanography at the university and project coordinator, told The Business Standard, "The station will bring significant changes to Bangladesh's cyclone and storm surge forecasting. Currently, the country relies on foreign satellite data, which is time-consuming."

"It will use China's HY-1C/D and FY-4B satellites to analyse sea surface temperature, wind speed, and cloud movement, providing warnings 48–72 hours in advance. This will reduce dependency on foreign organisations and increase local data processing capability, ultimately strengthening our forecasting systems," he added.

A contract has been signed with China Harbor Engineering Company Limited for project implementation. Officials expect the station's construction and installation to be completed within this year, with operations beginning soon after.

Supporting the Blue Economy

There is currently no effective system to identify potential fishing zones in the Bay of Bengal. Experts say that once the ground station is operational, it will enable real-time data collection and analysis on sea surface temperature, salinity, current speed, and chlorophyll concentration.

This will improve cyclone tracking, coastal flood modeling, and climate change monitoring. Fishing zones can be reorganised and specified, helping to identify ideal fishing areas and ensuring sustainable fishery resource management. Furthermore, temperature and salinity data can assist in oil and gas exploration, contributing to SDG-14.

"Countries like Pakistan, India, and others already have ocean satellite ground stations, which they use for marine resource management. We are lagging behind. If Bangladesh can gather and analyze necessary data through modern technology and continuous monitoring of its portion of the Bay of Bengal, we can make significant progress in marine economic development in a short time," Professor Mohammad Muslem Uddin added, saying, "The project will also enable our graduates and faculty to work with renewed purpose."

According to project documents, once the new technology is in place, it will support local seaports, airports, airlines, and other relevant agencies with information, forecasts, warnings, and advisory services.

It will also supply specific data for the Delta Plan and help prepare IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) reports on climate change. With continuous observation systems, it will also serve as a vital hub for international research organisations.

The station's funding model includes selling high-resolution data packages to international research bodies, offering data subscription services (DaaS) to fisheries, energy, and shipping companies, and allocating funds from the national budget. Additionally, subscription fees may be collected for training programs and SMS-based fishing zone alerts.

Future plans for the project include a sandwich programme for Bangladeshi scientists and engineers to enhance the institutional capacity as well as to create an expert pool trained in China. Curriculum integration will also be done with local universities.

There are also plans to modernise the technology through AI integration, machine learning-based cyclone prediction models, quantum computing readiness, and constructing a second data center in Cox's Bazar.

Strategic partnerships are being planned, including a weather information supply agreement with Biman Bangladesh Airlines, a dual-use agreement with Bangabandhu Satellite-2, and efforts to attract private investment.

By drafting a National Satellite Policy 2026, ocean data will be declared a "strategic asset" with a special protocol for data export control. A Fisherman Alert System is also planned as a part of social responsibility, providing SMS-based alerts and digital literacy programmes for coastal fishermen.

Professor Dr Md Kamal Uddin, Pro-Vice Chancellor (Administration) of the University of Chittagong, told TBS, "Once implemented, this project will make the country's weather and marine forecasting sectors self-reliant. Alongside strengthening disaster forecasting, the Ocean Satellite Ground Station will play a vital role in the development of Bangladesh's marine economy."

Country set to get its first Ocean Satellite Ground Station

The station will be able to collect and model detailed information about the coastal region within 10 to 15 minutes, enabling faster and more reliable forecasting. It will also play a key role in managing marine resources

www.tbsnews.net

Highlights:

• 1,000-bed specialised hospital in Nilphamari to be gift from China
• Feasibility study underway for 500–700-bed hospital in South Karnaphuli, Ctg
• 100-bed rehab centre planned in Dhamrai, Dhaka for patients with disabilities
• Talks still at early stage; investment criteria yet to be finalised
• Govt to send 60 more July uprising injured abroad for treatment
• They will be sent to Singapore, Thailand, Turkey, and Pakistan

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China will invest in the construction of three new hospitals in Bangladesh – a specialised hospital in Nilphamari, a general hospital in Chattogram, and a rehabilitation facility in Dhaka.

A 1,000-bed specialised hospital will be built near the Teesta Project in Nilphamari, Dr Md Abu Jafor, director general at Directorate General of Health Services, announced at a press briefing today (13 April).

"An initial site of 16 acres has been selected close to Nilphamari Medical College," he said.

In South Karnaphuli, Chattogram, feasibility studies will be conducted for a 500 to 700-bed general hospital.

Besides, in Dhamrai on the outskirts of Dhaka, China plans to construct a 100-bed rehabilitation centre for patients with various disabilities.

"China has shown strong interest in investing in our health sector. However, discussions are still at the preliminary stage. They will determine their investment criteria. Talks on technical training or manpower have not yet begun," Dr Jafor added.

Speaking at the same press event held at the Bangladesh Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka, Health Adviser Noorjahan Begum added the 1,000-bed specialised hospital in Nilphamari would be a gift from the Chinese government to commemorate five decades of diplomatic relations with Bangladesh.

She also announced that a robotic physiotherapy centre would be established at Bangladesh Medical University (formerly BSMMU) with Chinese assistance.

Treatment abroad for July uprising injured

The government is preparing to send another 60 wounded individuals from the July uprising abroad for advanced medical treatment.

So far, 50 people have been treated in countries including Singapore, Bangkok, and Russia, of whom 26 have returned home.

Among the new group, eight will be sent to Singapore and Bangkok, 21 to Turkey, and 31 to Pakistan.

When asked why some patients are being sent to Pakistan, the health adviser said, "UK medical experts informed us that Pakistan has hospitals specialised in treating landmine injuries, which is why we are referring patients there."

She added that 26 foreign doctors from China, the UK, the US, and France have so far come to Bangladesh to assist in treating the injured.

The government has verified data confirming over 864 deaths and more than 14,000 injuries related to the July events. "Of the injured, 70% are workers or civilians, and 25% are students."

The toll has been staggering: 21 people have been rendered completely blind, while around 450 have lost one eye.

Highlighting the urgency of critical cases, she said four patients with brain and spinal cord injuries were airlifted abroad via air ambulances, which had to be brought in from Singapore and Bangkok.

The treatment of one such patient, Baset Khan Musa, reportedly cost over Tk6.5 crore.

To support the victims, the government has announced that all "July fighters" will receive lifelong free healthcare at any hospital in the country through a health card system.

Families of those martyred will receive Tk30 lakh each from the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs, while additional assistance will be provided through the July Foundation.

China to build 3 hospitals in Bangladesh, including 1,000-bed facility as gift

Robotic physiotherapy centre would be established at Bangladesh Medical University with Chinese assistance

www.tbsnews.net