China’s Belt and Road Initiative is expanding infrastructure across Bangladesh, strengthening key economic corridors and opening new channels for Chinese goods and industrial inputs, according to an analysis by Dr. Sakariya Kareem cited in an Asian Lite International report.
The development of roads, bridges, railways and ports carries strategic implications beyond mere connectivity. Kareem notes that the network could enhance China’s influence in the Bay of Bengal and the wider Indian Ocean, drawing a parallel to the railway system built by Britain in India to move raw materials to ports such as Bombay, Calcutta and Madras. While the British network served colonial interests, China’s current engagement appears similarly focused on advancing its economic reach.
Beijing’s BRI assistance has concentrated on central and southeastern Bangladesh, especially the Dhaka and Chittagong divisions, which are the country’s most developed economic zones. Three major river systems – the Padma, Jamuna and Meghna – flow toward the Bay of Bengal, with important ports situated near their mouths.
Inland waterways have traditionally dominated Bangladesh’s transport network, accounting for more than half of cargo movement and a quarter of passenger traffic. In contrast, India’s waterways handle only about two percent of cargo. Many Chinese‑backed road and bridge projects are clustered around these rivers, linking Dhaka and Chittagong to maritime gateways.
The two regions are also important centres of Bangladesh’s readymade garment industry, the country’s key manufacturing sector, as per the report.
