Article
Bangladesh and Belt Road Initiative: Unfolding Possibilities

By : Sreeradha Datta

Page No: 277-295

Abstract 
Bangladesh has maintained close relations with China over the past four decades. The bilateral cooperation with China straddles a wide spectrum of activities, including a series of infrastructure projects. Thus, when China decided to map out its One Belt and Road network of transport corridors it would have counted on Bangladesh to join the network. Given China’s growing interest in the region its invitation to the South Asian states to join its BRI project was inevitable, and Bangladesh’s positive response was a continual of the ongoing trends. Beyond creating large scale infrastructures for transport and energy sectors, BRI also provides opportunities for further engagements with governments, private sector and civil society entities as well as think tanks and academia. However, despite excitement about the MOUs signed during President Xi’s visit to Dhaka in 2016, the number of projects that have been initiated or under consideration presently are not too many.

Author :
Dr. Sreeradha Datta is the Centre Head and Senior Fellow for Neighbourhood Studies at the Vivekananda International Foundation.