Economy
China Ready to Dispatch More Medical Teams to Aid Bangladesh
China has announced that its visiting medical team will help assess injuries in Bangladesh and provide emergency humanitarian medical assistance. Based on the needs, China is prepared to send additional medical teams and necessary medical supplies to treat patients on-site.
This marks the first emergency medical team from China to Bangladesh since the formation of the interim government, underscoring the strong bilateral relations between the two nations, said Chinese Ambassador Yao Wen. The team arrived at Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on September 22 at the invitation of the interim government.
Ambassador Yao, along with Sheikh Sayidul Haque, Additional Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services, welcomed the team. Yao expressed condolences to the victims of the recent uprising in Bangladesh and conveyed China’s deep empathy for the Bangladeshi people during these hardships.
Dong Qian, Head of the Chinese National Emergency Medical Team, highlighted that this humanitarian mission was made possible through the collaboration of various Chinese agencies and the support of the Chinese Embassy in Bangladesh. The team includes experts from West China Hospital, specializing in areas like trauma care, orthopedics, rehabilitation, and critical care.
Bangladesh’s Additional Director General Sheikh Sayidul Haque expressed gratitude to the Chinese government for their swift assistance, noting that China has consistently supported Bangladesh in times of crisis, including during the COVID-19 pandemic and dengue outbreaks. Bangladesh will provide full cooperation to the Chinese team to ensure the recovery of the injured as quickly as possible.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has revised its economic growth forecast for Bangladesh to 5.1% for the current fiscal year, citing political unrest in July and August, as well as recent floods, as key factors. The Asian Development Outlook report, released on September 25, noted that the forecast remains uncertain due to significant risks affecting the macroeconomic outlook.
These risks include ongoing political instability, security concerns, and vulnerabilities in the financial sector. The report also highlighted tight fiscal and monetary policies, which are expected to limit consumption and investment demand.
Back in April, ADB had predicted Bangladesh’s GDP growth would reach 6.6% for the fiscal year 2024-25.
Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser, Professor Muhammad Yunus, held a bilateral meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Tuesday. He also met with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during another UNGA event at the UN headquarters.
Prof Yunus shared the stage with former US President Bill Clinton at the Clinton Global Initiative 2024. Additionally, he met with IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva during the UNGA session.
Yunus attended a High-Level Side Event on the Rohingya crisis and later spoke at a reception marking the 50th anniversary of Bangladesh’s membership in the United Nations.
Earlier in the day, Prof Yunus had a historic bilateral meeting with US President Joseph R. Biden, the first of its kind between a US president and a Bangladeshi head of government during the UNGA.
The United States has announced nearly $199 million in new assistance to support Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. The announcement was made by Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights Uzra Zeya during a high-level side event on the Rohingya crisis at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on September 24.
According to a press release from the US Department of State, this new funding includes almost $70 million from the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM) and over $129 million from USAID. Of the USAID allocation, $78 million will come from the Department of Agriculture’s Commodity Credit Corporation, which will be used to purchase, ship, and distribute food from American farmers to Rohingya refugees and host communities in Bangladesh.
The aid is aimed at providing life-saving support, including food, shelter, and protection for those displaced by violence and persecution. The funds will also be directed towards disaster preparedness, educational access, skills training, and helping refugees prepare for a possible return to their homeland when conditions are safe.
Since the onset of the Rohingya crisis in August 2017, the US government has provided over $2.5 billion in aid for the regional response, with more than $2.1 billion allocated to Bangladesh. Of this amount, nearly $1.3 billion was contributed through PRM.
“The United States remains committed to assisting crisis-affected communities in Bangladesh and the region and urges other donors to maintain their support,” the press release concluded.
