Bangladesh is cautious about taking loans from China: Prime Minister Hasina

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said on Tuesday that her government is “very cautious” about development partnership with China and Dhaka is not dependent on any particular country for foreign aid. Significantly, there is concern about China’s increasing debt on small countries around the world. After Sri Lanka leased the Hambantota port to China on a 99-year lease, concerns grew over the ill-effects of China’s ambitious ‘Belt and Road’ initiative and China’s aid to small countries in key infrastructure projects costing billions of dollars.

In an interview with CNN, Hasina said, “We are very cautious about taking loans… Mostly we take loans from institutions like the World Bank or the Asian Development Bank. We have taken very little loan from China. It is not like Sri Lanka or other countries.” Hasina, chairperson of the ruling Awami League, said, “We are not dependent on anyone.” Asked why the US felt Bangladesh was moving closer to China and What would she like to say about this, Prime Minister Hasina replied that Bangladesh is very close to all those countries which support its development efforts.

Seventy-five-year-old Hasina said, “We are close to everyone, China, America, India. We are with those who are supporting our development.” Hasina described China as an important development partner of Bangladesh as they are investing and engaged in important construction works in the country. “That’s all,” she said. Hasina said her government had not taken unnecessary loans from anyone. “We consider which project can benefit us and we will benefit.

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