Profile

Bangladesh Profile of Chinese Development Finance, 2000-2023

Date Published

May 28, 2026

Authors

Oshin Pandey, JulieAnn Sickell, and Brooke Escobar

Publisher

Citation

Pandey, O., Sickell, J., and Escobar, B. (2026). Bangladesh: Chinese Development Finance, 2000-2023. Williamsburg, VA: AidData at William & Mary.

Abstract

This country profile provides a detailed overview of the scale, scope, and composition of Chinese state-directed financing in Bangladesh from 2000 to 2023. It includes granular information on key trends in China’s loan and grant-related official commitments, its lending portfolio, ESG risks in its infrastructure projects, and contractual safeguards adoption and implementation. From 2000 to 2023, China provided 100 grant-financed commitments and directed $19.9 billion via 67 loans issued in Bangladesh. Most of this financing was directed toward the energy and transport sectors, including large-scale power generation projects and upgrades to Dhaka’s transport infrastructure. A 2018 surge in financing reflected Beijing’s growing interest in cementing Bangladesh’s role as a Belt and Road hub in South Asia.

The insights in this profile are derived from China's Global Loans and Grants Dataset, Version 1.0 and the sources referenced therein.

Featured Authors

Oshin Pandey
China Development Finance

Oshin Pandey

Associate Program Manager

Julie Sickell
China Development Finance

Julie Sickell

Program Manager

Brooke Escobar
China Development Finance

Brooke Escobar

Associate Director of Tracking Underreported Financial Flows (TUFF)

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