The China consensus: Why Bangladesh’s political rivals found common ground

by Naim-Ul-Karim

In a country whose parliament is better known for shouting matches than handshakes, something unusual happened on Saturday. Lawmakers from both the government and opposition benches unanimously passed a motion thanking Prime Minister Tarique Rahman for his recent visits to Malaysia and China. The rare cross-party consensus — described by Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad as a “rare consensus across party lines” — reflects a growing recognition in Dhaka that China offers opportunities too substantial to ignore, and that a foreign policy rooted in national interest can transcend partisan divides. At the heart of this unity is a simple principle. “From our party’s position, we use a slogan, which is ‘Bangladesh First’,” the Prime Minister told parliament. “What I have tried to do from my position is to speak for the interests of my country and its people and to protect those interests.”
He made clear the achievements belong to the nation, not any party: “There is nothing personal in this for any of us. If there has been any achievement, it is Bangladesh’s achievement.” The numbers tell the story. During the June 21-26 visit, Bangladesh and China signed 17 memorandums of understanding spanning development cooperation, trade, investment, agriculture, education and media. More significantly, the two countries elevated their relationship from a “Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership” to a “China-Bangladesh Community with a Shared Future” — what Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman called “the highest step in terms of China’s bilateral engagement.”
New mechanisms include a Strategic Dialogue at foreign minister level and a “2+2” dialogue covering diplomacy and defence. China pledged full support for Bangladesh’s Teesta River management project, expedited work on Mongla Port modernisation, and backed Dhaka’s bids to join BRICS, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership. The prime minister’s address at the World Economic Forum in China also raised Bangladesh’s global profile, with the country recognised as a frontline nation in tackling climate change.
Perhaps the most telling moment came from Leader of the Opposition Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, who is also chief of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami party. He described Malaysia and China as “longstanding and trusted friends” of Bangladesh. “We do not want anyone to interfere in our independent foreign policy. The country’s interests must come first,” he said. He also called on both sides to move beyond the culture where the ruling party claims all credit while the opposition opposes everything. Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury noted the prime minister’s decision to forgo lavish airport receptions — a break from past practice — as a “real change in political culture.”
The China pivot is not new for the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen had earlier recalled late Bangladeshi President Ziaur Rahman as “the pioneer of Bangladesh-China diplomatic relations” and discussed the “Look East Policy” during ex-PM Begum Khaleda Zia’s time in office. Ziaur Rahman visited China in January 1977 as chief martial law administrator, initiating rapid development of ties with Beijing. Khaleda Zia’s government formally adopted the Look East policy in 2001, with China at its core. Tarique Rahman, elder son of Ziaur Rahman and Khaleda Zia, is now building on that foundation. Senior BNP leader Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said the prime minister “is following the path of the multi-directional foreign policy initiated by Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman.” Chinese President Xi Jinping during his meeting with Mr. Rahman assured that China will remain a “trusted friend” of Bangladesh and help in implementing the development plans of the BNP government. The Chinese President also remembered Mr. Rahman’s parents – late Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and President Ziaur Rahman – and said, both were “good friends of China”.
Mr. Tarique Rahman on his part conveyed Bangladesh’s commitment to “one China policy”. “There is but one China in the world, Taiwan is an inalienable part of the territory of the People’s Republic of China and the Government of the People’s Republic of China is the sole legal government presenting the whole of China,” stated the joint statement expressing Bangladesh’s opposition to “any form of Taiwan independence”. For a country long accustomed to a foreign policy heavily tilted towards a neighbour country, this represents a deliberate rebalancing. Diplomats see the TariqueRahman’s “Bangladesh First” doctrine as an effort to avoid aligning exclusively with any major power. Against this backdrop, the parliamentary China consensus matters for three reasons.
First, it shows that when foreign policy serves genuine national interests, it can unite a fractured polity. Second, it signals a maturing democracy where opposition can support the government on matters of national importance without compromising its critical role. Third, it sets a precedent: national interest can be a unifying force.
China is already Bangladesh’s largest trading partner, with bilateral trade at approximately $18 billion. Twelve Chinese companies have proposed investments worth US$9.21 billion in Bangladesh across energy, infrastructure, logistics, manufacturing and education sectors following meetings with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman during his recent visit to China. China has proposed the development of the China-Myanmar-Bangladesh Economic Corridor for greater regional connectivity. And the Teesta River project, if realised, would be transformative for Bangladesh’s water security. Chinese support for Bangladesh’s BRICS and SCO membership would further integrate Dhaka into Asian institutional frameworks. None of this means Bangladesh is abandoning its other relationships. The prime minister visited Malaysia first — a deliberate signal that Dhaka seeks diversified partnerships.
But the message from Saturday’s parliament session was clear: when China offers concrete opportunities for development, infrastructure and trade, Bangladesh’s politicians — however divided on other matters — will speak with one voice. As the Speaker put it, the visits have “opened a new horizon in Bangladesh’s foreign policy.” The challenge now is to ensure this unity of purpose extends beyond foreign policy to the many other challenges facing the nation.
Looking ahead, the success of Bangladesh’s engagement with China will ultimately be measured not by diplomatic symbolism but by tangible economic outcomes. Bangladesh’s greatest priority remains sustaining high economic growth, creating millions of jobs for its young population, modernising infrastructure, attracting foreign investment and graduating smoothly from the least developed country category. China, as the world’s second-largest economy and one of Bangladesh’s largest development and trading partners, is well positioned to contribute to these objectives through investment, technology transfer, industrial cooperation and improved market access. If the commitments made during Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s visit are implemented effectively, projects such as Teesta River management, Mongla Port modernisation, expanded industrial parks and greater Chinese investment in manufacturing could strengthen Bangladesh’s long-term economic competitiveness. Enhanced cooperation in renewable energy, digital technology, higher education and agriculture would also help diversify Bangladesh’s economy beyond the ready-made garment sector. Equally important is the strategic value of diversification. Bangladesh has long pursued a foreign policy of maintaining constructive relations with all major partners. Expanding cooperation with China does not require abandoning relationships with India, the United States, Japan, Europe or other regional partners. Rather, a broader network of economic partnerships gives Dhaka greater resilience, more bargaining power and wider access to investment and technology. Stronger ties with China can therefore help Bangladesh reduce excessive dependence on any single external partner while reinforcing its strategic autonomy. For Bangladesh, the objective should never be choosing sides in regional competition. It should be choosing opportunities. A confident, economically stronger Bangladesh that engages all major powers on the basis of mutual respect and national interest will be better positioned to safeguard its sovereignty, expand its development options and play a more influential role in South Asia and the wider Indo-Pacific. The rare political consensus witnessed in parliament may prove most valuable if it becomes the foundation for a long-term foreign policy centred not on ideology or rivalry, but on prosperity, balance and Bangladesh’s national interest.

Postscript: The writer is a journalist and this opinion piece is available for publication by any news outlet, nationally or internationally, on a non-exclusive basis. Editors are granted the right to make standard revisions for length, clarity, grammar, and house style. Opinions expressed are solely his own & don’t express the views or opinions of his employer.