The Chinese-built Padma Bridge Project is Bangladesh's largest bridge project. Photo: Xinhua

 
Chinese businesses have rolled out contingency measures, including asking employees not to go out unless necessary, stockpile daily necessities and temporarily suspend projects, amid weeks of protests in Bangladesh, the Global Times learned from local companies on Tuesday.

According to a statement that Power Construction Corp of China (PowerChina) sent to the Global Times on Tuesday, the company's local personnel are all staying in apartments at an embassy-designated area.

"They are instructed not to go out unless absolutely necessary, and any departure requires assessment and approval... personnel are safe, and communication via internet, Chinese phones and satellite phones are available," PowerChina said, noting that emergency protocols have been activated.

Ongoing protests in many parts of the country have disrupted some of the daily operations of Chinese companies, insiders said.

An employee of the branch company of Henan D.R. Construction Group told the Global Times on Tuesday that the company's project was suspended from July 19 to 24, which had a significant impact on the project's timely completion.

Customs clearance has also been disrupted for goods arriving at Chittagong Port, the busiest port on the Bay of Bengal, including essential construction equipment and materials, the Global Times learned. "This has affected the project's subsequent development," according to the group.

The protest also affected the procurement of local materials needed at the construction site, and the company has taken measures to ensure that the project progresses as swiftly as possible, the Henan Province-based company said.

To prevent other shortages of daily necessities during the blockade, the Henan D.R. Construction Group has stockpiled food and domestic gas at the local dormitory's canteen.

An employee surnamed Wang at a Chinese state-owned enterprise told the Global Times on Tuesday on condition of anonymity that some Chinese factories and projects have been affected, and some construction equipment used on a road project undertaken by Wang's company was damaged.

"Some personnel from affected enterprises are being evacuated, while most Chinese state-owned enterprises' offices in Bangladesh are reinforcing security measures and awaiting official instructions from the Chinese Embassy before taking further action," Wang said, noting that the company is closely monitoring the situation.

"Our daily activities have been affected, with shops unable to operate normally," Yu Yaya, a local Chinese businessperson, told the Global Times on Tuesday. Yu said that although the country's new interim government announced that all workplaces and businesses can resume normal operations on Tuesday, many merchants and companies remain cautious and are choosing not to reopen, pending further developments.

An interim government will be set up to run Bangladesh after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned on Monday amid protests, according to army chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

Zaman made the remarks in a broadcast to the nation on state television on Monday afternoon. He said Hasina had resigned, which confirmed media reports earlier about her stepping down.

There will be no need to declare a state of emergency if the situation gets better, said Zaman, while calling for maintaining peace and order in the country.

The South Asian country is an important trading partner for China, with many infrastructure projects ranging from roads to energy that matter for the country's social and economic development, particularly under the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative.

Total construction contracts received by Chinese companies in Bangladesh have reached nearly $23 billion, and there are many large projects underway between the two countries, according to media reports.

Responding to media questions over the resignation of Hasina, a spokesperson of China's Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday that China is following closely the developments in Bangladesh. As a friendly neighbor and comprehensive strategic cooperative partner of Bangladesh, China sincerely hopes that social stability will be restored soon in the country, the spokesperson said.