Dhaka and Beijing have agreed to renew the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on sustainable water management following modifications, according to Touhid

Dhaka and Beijing originally signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on sustainable water management during the Chinese President’s visit to Bangladesh in 2016. Both countries have now agreed to renew the MoU with certain modifications, according to Foreign Adviser Touhid Hossain. 

Speaking at a media conference at the foreign ministry on Sunday, after his recent visit to China, Touhid Hossain disclosed that both sides are working to identify and incorporate necessary changes to the MoU. 

“We have shared our observations with Beijing, and they’ve shared theirs with us. Finalizing the draft will take some time as additional issues will be included in the renewed agreement,” he said. 

Hossain also confirmed the signing of a separate MoU during his visit, focused on exchanging hydropower-related information about the Yaluzangbu-Jamuna River. He highlighted that during discussions, Dhaka raised serious concerns about a dam on the Brahmaputra River, a transboundary river originating in China and flowing into Bangladesh through India. “We’ve requested China to share their ongoing studies on this matter. They assured us that water flow won’t decrease due to the dam,” he added.

When asked about discussions on possible Chinese assistance for the Teesta River Project, Hossain clarified that the matter wasn’t discussed. “For such discussions to happen, the water management MoU must first be renewed, which will take some time,” he explained.

Responding to a question on Dr. Yunus’s visit to China, Hossain remarked, “There was no discussion on this issue. We are not rushing into it.”

Hossain also addressed U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to temporarily suspend foreign aid. He stated that the decision was anticipated and not targeted at any specific country, including Bangladesh. USAID’s suspension of aid, he noted, applied globally and temporarily halts funding for all ongoing projects in Bangladesh. Regarding its impact on Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, Hossain said, “We are entering a new reality and must adapt to protect our national interests.”

Additionally, the adviser announced that China has decided to designate two to three hospitals in Kunming for Bangladeshi patients facing difficulties obtaining Indian medical visas. He also revealed plans for China to construct a public hospital on government-owned land in Purbachal near Dhaka and establish a tertiary-level hospital through a public-private partnership (PPP) initiative.

During his January 20–24 visit, Hossain held bilateral talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and engaged with the Chinese business community in Shanghai. He requested Beijing to lower interest rates on loans and extend repayment periods from 20 to 30 years, to which the Chinese foreign minister responded positively.