Assault of Bangladeshi worker by Chinese project officer can snowball into crisis

NEW DELHI: China-Bangladesh ties and Beijing’s projects in Bangladesh ties could face testing times over a recent incident in which a Bangladeshi national was assaulted by a Chinese project officer which snowballed into a crisis.

Some local workers on Thursday vandalized several cars and residential barracks housing several Chinese workers in the under-construction Lebukhali Bridge area over the Payra River in Barisal area of Bangladesh.

The vandalism is reported to have been in retaliation for the assault on Wednesday of a local worker by the Chinese workers.


The local identified as Jubayer, 30, had been working as a labourer on the under-construction Lebukhali Bridge project for a long time. Jubayer was admitted to Bakerganj Upazila Health Complex following the assault.

Dr Sadia Afroz of the hospital said Jubayer had multiple bruises on his body when he was admitted, according to reports in local media.

Alauddin Milon a local police officer told media, “Chinese workers got furious at Jubayer for not wearing a mask while working at the site and beat him up.”

Some Chinese workers along with the project manager assaulted Jubayer, severely injuring him in the process.

When the matter came to light, the agitated Bangali construction workers attacked some of the Chinese workers and vandalized their cars and barracks.

In total, China promised about $40 billion investment in Bangladesh. A total of $24.45 billion was in bilateral assistance for infrastructure projects and $13.6 billion in joint ventures. In addition, $20 billion in loan agreements was committed.