'Friend' China's projects run into rough weather in Bangladesh

[CaPtAiN_pLaNeT]

'Friend' China's projects run into rough weather in Bangladesh

By Dipanjan Roy Chaudhury

PUBLISHED: 23:17 GMT, 6 May 2012 | UPDATED: 23:17 GMT, 6 May 2012


China has been funding key infrastructure projects across the Indian neighbourhood, much to New Delhi's discomfiture.

But four of the major projects, including the Deep Sea Port (DSP) and a power plant in Bangladesh funded by Beijing, have run into serious trouble.

China has for long funded infrastructure projects in Bangladesh. It's no secret that China's People's Liberation Army maintains close ties with its Bangladesh counterpart.

China is also the largest supplier of military hardware to Bangladesh. But the bilateral ties are said to have been hit recently following snags in key projects. The strategically located DSP at Bangladesh's Sonadia is being built by China Merchants Holdings International Co.Ltd. (CMHI).

But the Sheikh Hasina government has reportedly sought Japanese soft loan instead of Chinese loan favoured earlier. Hasina is said to have asked the Bangladesh shipping minister to look for more than one financier.

Ironically, it was Hasina, who during her Beijing visit in 2011, sought Chinese assistance to build the DSP. China says this DSP can become a regional transportation and logistic centre.

Being landlocked, the Yunnan province of China seeks greater economic engagement with Bangladesh, including an access to the Bay of Bengal. Both Beijing and Dhaka have been negotiating a number of mega-infrastructure projects, notably highway and railway networks, connecting Chittagong and Kunming through Myanmar.

Besides the DSP, a dredging project in Gorai river funded by China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) has also come under the scanner. There are reports of gross irregularities in the 9.43-billion taka project.

The 1,320-MW power plant at Anwara, Chittagong, being built by China Hudian Hong Kong Company is also facing the Bangladesh High Court's wrath.

Following a PIL, the court directed the government to suspend proceedings for setting up the power plant on environmental concerns till further orders.

Read more: 'Friend' China's projects run into rough weather in Bangladesh | Mail Online

 

[shuttler]

As long as a contract is signed and sealed, is there any way to repudiate the contract while the court of BD can address their irregularities @ the accused BD perpetrator! How far has the projects gone? Does the contract allow for a switch of the financier? ..and many other contractual and political points to consider! I dont think the japanese can match the bid!

 

[eastwatch]

I think, the Mail Online is not correct when it implies that the GoB is seeking Japanese soft loan in order to get rid of Chinese participation. A project as large as Deep Sea Port (DSP) is supposed to have many phases. Construction starts at Phase 1 and may end at Phase 10. So, even if there is a Japanese assistance it may be in one of thoses phases. However, Japan cannot outbid the Chinese in any phase of a project like DSP where no specialized technology is involved such as it is in a petrochemical complex. DSP is rather a pure civil construction project.

I have noted the presence of Japanese DPM's visit to BD. This visit is certainly meant for strengthening the USA position vis-a-vis Bangladesh. It may mean that now Japan is more willing to assist BD in its quest for development of its physical infrastructure. Japan has always been helping BD, but the rate of its involvement with BD will be more from now since it supports US position in BD and BoB.

However, we have to understand that a project cannot just be given to Japan only because it has extended a part of the fund. The lowest bidder must be given the contract unless there is any specific reason not to do so.

Therefore, I think the Mail's assertion that China is in deep trouble in Bangladesh is not correct. It is more so because BD military is awashed with Chinese hardwares. So, however USA and India may try to apart BD from China, it is simply impossible. However, I think, that there will be no permanent presence of China's navy on our shore. So, this should make India happy.

 

[TopCat]

I think, the Mail Online is not correct when it implies that the GoB is seeking Japanese soft loan in order to get rid of Chinese participation. A project as large as Deep Sea Port (DSP) is supposed to have many phases. Construction starts at Phase 1 and may end at Phase 10. So, even if there is a Japanese assistance it may be in one of thoses phases. However, Japan cannot outbid the Chinese in any phase of a project like DSP where no specialized technology is involved such as it is in a petrochemical complex. DSP is rather a pure civil construction project.

I have noted the presence of Japanese DPM's visit to BD. This visit is certainly meant for strengthening the USA position vis-a-vis Bangladesh. It may mean that now Japan is more willing to assist BD in its quest for development of its physical infrastructure. Japan has always been helping BD, but the rate of its involvement with BD will be more from now since it supports US position in BD and BoB.

However, we have to understand that a project cannot just be given to Japan only because it has extended a part of the fund. The lowest bidder must be given the contract unless there is any specific reason not to do so.

Therefore, I think the Mail's assertion that China is in deep trouble in Bangladesh is not correct. It is more so because BD military is awashed with Chinese hardwares. So, however USA and India may try to apart BD from China, it is simply impossible. However, I think, that there will be no permanent presence of China's navy on our shore. So, this should make India happy.

You are right... BD government seriously wants China's involvement in DSP as well as Anwara power plant.

As long as a contract is signed and sealed, is there any way to repudiate the contract while the court of BD can address their irregularities @ the accused BD perpetrator! How far has the projects gone? Does the contract allow for a switch of the financier? ..and many other contractual and political points to consider! I dont think the japanese can match the bid!

No contract is signed yet for the power plant except MOU. Yes, BD high court can over rule any contract if there were any irregularities.

 

[Zabaniyah]

lolz...Dipanjan Roy Chaudhury

 

[Supply&Demand]

Therefore, I think the Mail's assertion that China is in deep trouble in Bangladesh is not correct. It is more so because BD military is awashed with Chinese hardwares. So, however USA and India may try to apart BD from China, it is simply impossible. However, I think, that there will be no permanent presence of China's navy on our shore. So, this should make India happy.

First of all, as an Indian i would like to say, we have no problem if China is investing heavily in Bangladesh in building ports etc..
It actually helps India a lot..
But India will definitely will have problem if these civilian projects are used by China's armed forces/intelligence agencies and allowed by Bangladesh to be used against India. This will definitely result in India initiating a covert war on anti-India projects..

 

[Zabaniyah]

First of all, as an Indian i would like to say, we have no problem if China is investing heavily in Bangladesh in building ports etc..
It actually helps India a lot..
But India will definitely will have problem if these civilian projects are used by China's armed forces/intelligence agencies and allowed by Bangladesh to be used against India. This will definitely result in India initiating a covert war on anti-India projects..

The project wasn't anti-India at all to begin with.

 

[PlanetSoldier]

As long as a contract is signed and sealed, is there any way to repudiate the contract while the court of BD can address their irregularities @ the accused BD perpetrator! How far has the projects gone? Does the contract allow for a switch of the financier? ..and many other contractual and political points to consider! I dont think the japanese can match the bid!

Nothing in BD happens following logic, everything is possible here...it depends on govt. scholars not on rules & regulation . When the wisdom is borrowed from others and there's no self dependency for deciding on national issue, it could simply happen.

 

[PlanetSoldier]

Bangladeshi people should now change their mind set, we are a sovereign nation and we have to take our decision on our own. Who gets fired on our decision doesn't actually matter as long as that country is not our proven friend. If our friendly nation's military envoy visits us, how does that anger india? Our Navy ships as well as teams from armed forces are regularly visiting China, then what's wrong if they visit us. Even indian armed forces teams are frequently visiting us. If people are thinking that india will attack BD or do some harm, let them do that. india is not doing anything good indeed to us. And what they can do is take some back door policy to kill the leader who makes them angry..that's all. But such a manly leader is required for BD now, how long will they orchestrate conspiracy in our land? Once we'll be able to kick every evil force out of our land. Just Bangladeshi should consider the ignoring of 25 years treaty. Following that treaty we were not able to build our armed forces. But didn't president ZIa ignore that sh$t and continue building forces? That was initiated by ZIa and later maintained by Ershad. So, if we first think of our sovereignty, it'll not be a problem to avoid anything bad. Wonder when we will be able to get such leaders again in BD.

 

[Lone]

...Same propaganda ****, Lol its dipanjan again...

 

[Avatar]

Bangladeshi people should now change their mind set, we are a sovereign nation and we have to take our decision on our own. Who gets fired on our decision doesn't actually matter as long as that country is not our proven friend. If our friendly nation's military envoy visits us, how does that anger india? Our Navy ships as well as teams from armed forces are regularly visiting China, then what's wrong if they visit us. Even indian armed forces teams are frequently visiting us. If people are thinking that india will attack BD or do some harm, let them do that. india is not doing anything good indeed to us. And what they can do is take some back door policy to kill the leader who makes them angry..that's all. But such a manly leader is required for BD now, how long will they orchestrate conspiracy in our land? Once we'll be able to kick every evil force out of our land. Just Bangladeshi should consider the ignoring of 25 years treaty. Following that treaty we were not able to build our armed forces. But didn't president ZIa ignore that sh$t and continue building forces? That was initiated by ZIa and later maintained by Ershad. So, if we first think of our sovereignty, it'll not be a problem to avoid anything bad. Wonder when we will be able to get such leaders again in BD.

You can do as you wish, but for progress you simply cannot ignore India.
It is better to behave and be friends, make do with what we have, rather than risking everything for nothing.
As for us, we will simply get an excuse to man our borders more cautiously, and India doesn't depend on BD for anything.

 

[Luffy 500]

You can do as you wish, but for progress you simply cannot ignore India.
It is better to behave and be friends, make do with what we have, rather than risking everything for nothing.
As for us, we will simply get an excuse to man our borders more cautiously, and India doesn't depend on BD for anything.

Please do that.Force your gov to implement such plans quickly.

 

[eastwatch]

Please do that.Force your gov to implement such plans quickly.

Why are you asking Indian Govt to do something bad to BD? It already is doing it. The latest episode is giving training to a group of AL braves a commando training. But, now they themselves now cannot come out of their hideouts since they have been pinpointed.

 

[arp2041]

Bangladeshi's have to understand China is not 'Friend' as China is just using the country as a pearl in their string against India.If China was really a friend of BD than it would not have opposed it's independence from Pakistan in 1971.Remember that China had used its veto power to block the entry of BD in UN.It established relations with BD only when China came to know that now the things cannot be reversed. There is no problem with China investing in BD but as historical & cultural relations of BD with India have a long history, India should be given a preference over others.

 

[Fanling Monk]

Bangladeshi's have to understand China is not 'Friend' as China is just using the country as a pearl in their string against India.If China was really a friend of BD than it would not have opposed it's independence from Pakistan in 1971.Remember that China had used its veto power to block the entry of BD in UN.It established relations with BD only when China came to know that now the things cannot be reversed. There is no problem with China investing in BD but as historical & cultural relations of BD with India have a long history, India should be given a preference over others.

Why bring up something that happened 40 or 50 years ago. The world has since changed, wake up.