Impact of the Belt and Road Initiative on China-Bangladesh Economic Relations

Currently, China-Bangladesh relations are a burning issue in South Asian politics. The friendship between China and Bangladesh followed a different pattern at the beginning. The relations have gradually increased recently, and the Chinese connectivity project, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has played a significant role in establishing trust and faith. This article explores the tangible effects of Bangladesh's involvement in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) on its economic relations with China. The study focuses on three key aspects: investment, trade, and loans. The data for this work was collected from reports provided by the Bangladesh Bank. The study concludes that participation in the BRI strengthens the bilateral relationship between China and Bangladesh, primarily demonstrated through increased investments and loans. Furthermore, the trade relationship is impacted, with Bangladesh witnessing a more rapid improvement in imports from China than its exports, leading to a trade deficit.