In recent years, China’s footprint in Bangladesh has grown significantly. More so after 2016 when Bangladesh like other countries in the region joined China’s Belt and Road Initiative. Much before this in 2012, Bangladesh was beholden to China for stepping in when the World Bank pulled out of a mega project over the Padma River on grounds of large-scale corruption by officials. When the World Bank made these accusations public, the government took it to heart. The Chinese stepped in with the funds and the $3.6 billion project was inaugurated in 2022. China has since built several infrastructure projects in the country. In November 2023, the Padma Bridge Rail Link was also completed. This was the largest project under the BRI initiative. China is involved in several other projects in Bangladesh too. China wants continuity and stability for the success of its BRI plans and believes that a strong Awami League is best fitted to deliver, though in the past, it too had had excellent ties with the BNP.