Quickpost | Dhaka
Bangladesh’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain has strongly defended the decision to establish a UAV (drone) manufacturing and assembly facility in Bangladesh with Chinese assistance, saying the move is entirely in the country’s national interest and not subject to external approval.
Speaking to journalists at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday, Touhid Hossain said, “If Bangladesh sets up a factory with the support of another country, that is our sovereign decision and it is taken in the interest of Bangladesh. What others think about it is not important.”
He added, “Do our opinions matter when something happens in India or Pakistan?”—underscoring Dhaka’s stance on strategic independence.
Defence Cooperation with China
The adviser said defence cooperation with China is not new, and the proposed drone factory is part of an ongoing cooperation framework. He noted that such initiatives are primarily technical and defence-related matters, and not decisions driven by diplomatic pressure.
On Tuesday, a government-to-government (G2G) agreement was signed at Bangladesh Air Force Headquarters in Dhaka Cantonment between Bangladesh and China. Under the agreement, the Bangladesh Air Force and China Electronics Technology Group Corporation (CETC) will jointly establish a modern UAV production and assembly facility in the country.
Project Scope and Capabilities
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the project aims to ensure technology transfer, skills development and joint technical collaboration. In the long term, it is expected to help Bangladesh achieve self-reliance in drone production.
In the initial phase, the Bangladesh Air Force will gain the capability to produce and assemble Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) and VTOL (Vertical Take-Off and Landing) drones. These UAVs will be used not only for military purposes, but also for disaster management, surveillance and humanitarian operations.
US Ambassador’s Remarks
Asked about comments made by newly appointed US Ambassador Brent T. Christensen, who expressed concerns over China’s growing influence in South Asia, Touhid Hossain said Bangladesh would continue to act based on its own national interests.
“We will take decisions according to our priorities and move forward accordingly,” he said.
Earlier, Ambassador Christensen stated that the United States remains concerned about China’s regional influence and would clearly outline potential risks if Bangladesh deepens defence cooperation with Beijing.
In response, the Chinese Embassy in Dhaka issued a statement calling the US ambassador’s remarks “irresponsible and baseless,” adding that Bangladesh–China cooperation is a mutual decision between two sovereign nations and does not accept interference from third parties.
No Comment on Political Speculation
When asked about a report by The Washington Post claiming US diplomats are discussing the possible electoral strength of Jamaat-e-Islami in the upcoming election, the foreign affairs adviser declined to comment.
“Speculation achieves nothing,” he said. “What matters is who wins the election. The elected government will decide how relations with the United States are handled.”
Bottom Line
The decision to establish a China-backed drone factory has highlighted emerging geopolitical tensions between the United States and China in South Asia. Bangladesh’s position, however, remains clear: national interest comes first, and external opinions will not influence sovereign decisions.
Tags: Quickpost, Dhaka, Bangladesh–China relations, drone factory, UAV, defence cooperation, foreign affairs adviser, geopolitics
