China supplies Bangladesh with advanced weaponry including rifles, rocket launchers, military vehicles, more: Report
- In Reports
- 06:12 PM, Mar 15, 2025
- Myind Staff
China has supplied Bangladesh with a substantial amount of weapons, tailored to suit the country's geographical requirements. A large part of these weapons was delivered following the coup against Sheikh Hasina in Bangladesh.
A research paper reveals that in addition to weaponry, China has given Bangladesh access to several military technologies. China aims to make Bangladesh militarily strong enough to pose a threat to India at the border. On Tuesday, the research paper titled as "China's National Image in Bangladesh" was released. Former Dhaka University professor and Executive Director of the Center for Alternatives, Imtiaz Ahmed, along with Chinese Ambassador Yao Wen and others, attended the launch of a research paper organised by the Center for Alternatives at a hotel in Dhaka. This comes just a few weeks before Bangladesh's Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus is scheduled to visit China.
Yunus is set to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping on March 28. According to a research paper, Beijing has provided Bangladesh with technology for producing small and medium-sized weapons, including rifles, rocket launchers, MANPADs (man-portable air-defense systems), and light utility vehicles. This support has aided Bangladesh Ordnance Factories and Bangladesh Machine Tools Factory Ltd in developing a domestic defence industry. Bangladesh also received patrol boats from China.
The report claims, “In 2012, with the assistance of China, the Bangladesh Navy inducted its first domestically built patrol vessel, constructed at Khulna Shipyard Limited, into its fleet.” The report states that there has been no change in the relationship between the two countries despite the change in leadership in August. It also mentions that in October, the People's Liberation Army Navy sent two warships to Chittagong Port as part of a goodwill visit.
Military relations have remained stable despite the coup in Bangladesh. The report highlights that defence relations between Bangladesh and China have remained stable despite the recent change in government in Dhaka. It mentioned that this was the first visit by a foreign naval vessel since the interim government took charge. The interim government also expressed its intention to strengthen defence and security ties with China.
Additionally, a research paper noted that during a seminar in Dhaka in October, Foreign Affairs Advisor Mohammad Touhid Hossain emphasised the government's commitment to continuing bilateral defence cooperation, confirming that Bangladesh sees defence collaboration as a key aspect of its relationship with China. The China-Bangladesh military agreement document mentions that both countries signed a defence cooperation deal in 2002, which covers military training and defence production.
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