17, February 2025

The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI): Its’s Effects on the International Trade of Bangladesh, A Case Study

VOLUME-11; ISSUE-2; FEB-2025

Author(s): Md Mostafizur Rahman Siam

Authors Affiliations:

Student, Department of Accounting and Information Systems (AIS), University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi, Bangladesh.

DOIs:10.2015/IJIRMF/202502001     |     Paper ID: IJIRMF202502001


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The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), launched by China, aims to enhance global connectivity and trade through extensive infrastructure investments. Since joining the BRI in 2016, Bangladesh has attracted over $40 billion in investments to improve infrastructure, reduce transportation costs, and strengthen its role as a regional trading hub. Projects such as the Padma Bridge Railway, Karnaphuli Tunnel, and Payra Sea Port have significantly boosted trade efficiency and export capacity, positioning Bangladesh as a key player in the BRI.

Despite these advancements, challenges persist. Concerns over debt sustainability, environmental impact, and geopolitical tensions underscore the complexity of BRI participation. Moreover, Bangladesh’s trade balance with BRI countries remains skewed, as imports consistently outpace exports, reflecting the limitations of its trade framework. However, BRI-driven infrastructure investments hold promise for improving trade performance, diversifying exports, and securing energy needs.

This study assesses the impact of BRI investments on Bangladesh’s international trade by examining their influence on trade performance, market access, and export diversification. It highlights the potential for Bangladesh to harness BRI opportunities to maximize its trade potential while addressing inherent risks.

Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Bangladesh trade, Infrastructure development, Debt sustainability, Market access, Financial risks, Economic growth opportunities.

Md Mostafizur Rahman Siam (2025); The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI): Its’s Effects on the International Trade of Bangladesh, A Case Study, International Journal for Innovative Research in Multidisciplinary Field, ISSN(O): 2455-0620, Vol-11, Issue-2, Pp.1-8.         Available on –   https://www.ijirmf.com/

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