Bangladeshis in Guangzhou urge PM to open consulate office

Ministry of Foreign Affairs seal

Dhaka, Oct 19: Bangladeshis living in Guangzhou, a major commercial city in China, have urged the government to open a Bangladeshi consulate office there, appealing to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to take prompt steps in this regard.

They said a large number of Bangladeshis live and do business in Guangzhou and surrounding areas, but the absence of a Bangladeshi consulate office has caused them various difficulties in accessing consular services.

The application was submitted by Md Sakhawat Hossain Kanan on behalf of Bangladeshi businesspeople, professionals and students living in Guangzhou and nearby areas. He is associated with Guangzhou Friendship Trading Company Limited and Radhuni Restaurant.

Copies of the application, submitted from Guangzhou, were also sent to the foreign minister, commerce minister, civil aviation and tourism minister, expatriates’ welfare minister, Bangladesh’s ambassador in Beijing and the president of the Bangladesh China Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCCI).

The application describes Guangzhou as the capital of China’s Guangdong province and an important centre for the economy, education, healthcare and trade. Known as China’s third-largest commercial city, Guangzhou is a major hub for industry, trade and business in the southeastern region surrounding Hong Kong and Macao.

The Canton Fair, an international trade exhibition, is held in Guangzhou twice a year. Thousands of buyers and sellers from different countries attend the event, including a significant number of Bangladeshi businesspeople and entrepreneurs.

The application also notes that two of China’s free trade zones are located in Guangdong province, creating potential new opportunities and commercial advantages for Bangladeshi businesses.

According to information provided by the applicants, around 25,000 Bangladeshis from different professions, including businesspeople, employees, students and teachers, live in Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Dongguan, Foshan and Zhongshan.

In addition, around 15,000 to 20,000 Bangladeshis travel to Guangzhou every month for business, tourism and medical treatment, they said.

Bangladeshis travel to Guangzhou using several airlines, including Biman Bangladesh Airlines, US-Bangla Airlines, China Southern Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, SriLankan Airlines, Thai Airways and Malaysia Airlines. A flight from Dhaka to Guangzhou takes around three and a half hours.

The application states that Bangladesh’s consular services in China are currently provided mainly through the Bangladesh Embassy in Beijing and the Consulate General in Kunming.

However, Bangladeshis living in the southeastern Chinese provinces of Guangdong, Guangxi, Fujian, Hunan and Hainan, as well as in Shenzhen, Dongguan, Foshan and Zhongshan, have to travel long distances to access these services.

According to the applicants’ calculations, Guangzhou is around 2,126 kilometres from Beijing and approximately 1,340 kilometres from Kunming. As a result, Bangladeshis in these areas have to spend considerable time and money to obtain necessary consular services.

The application also highlights what it describes as a serious problem faced by expatriate Bangladeshis when someone dies in China.

It states that repatriating the remains of a Bangladeshi national from China costs around Tk 20 lakh to Tk 25 lakh and requires various documents and formalities.

The applicants alleged that, in many cases, local Bangladeshis have to collect donations among themselves to arrange the repatriation without assistance from any relevant organisation. This places financial and emotional burdens on the deceased’s family and the Bangladeshi community in China.

They also said accessing urgent consular services takes considerable time and involves various difficulties.

The application further raises concerns about Bangladeshi businesspeople suffering losses while conducting business in China. The applicants alleged that the relevant officials have not been able to play an adequate role in addressing such problems.

They believe opening a Bangladeshi consulate office in Guangzhou would make it easier for expatriates to seek assistance and resolve their difficulties.

The application claims that consulates or diplomatic offices from more than 70 countries operate in Guangzhou, while Bangladesh has no consular office there.

The applicants expressed hope that an initiative to establish a Bangladeshi consulate office in Guangzhou under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman would strengthen Bangladesh’s diplomatic and economic presence in the region.

They also believe it would make life easier for expatriate Bangladeshis and help them obtain effective assistance in resolving their problems.

The Canton Fair is one of the world’s oldest and largest international trade fairs, held in Guangzhou. It has been organised twice a year, in spring and autumn, since 1957.

The 140th Canton Fair, the autumn edition of 2026, began on October 15. Buyers and sellers from across the world participate in the fair, which also offers Bangladeshi businesspeople and entrepreneurs opportunities to expand commercial ties with China. - UNB