Dhaka, June 18 -- Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's scheduled visit to China will cover "many issues, starting with defence", according to Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) Executive Chairman Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun.

On Thursday, Ashik said substantial progress had been made on the long-delayed Chinese Economic and Industrial Zone (CEIZ) before the visit.

After the Awami League government fell amid the July 2024 student-led uprising, Bangladesh's ties with India cooled while relations with China strengthened.

Since Aug 5, 2024, leaders of the BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami and National Citizen Party (NCP) have visited China.

During the tenure of the interim administration, China was also discussed as an alternative desti...