Dhaka, Aug. 19 -- Chinese investment in Bangladesh is increasing, but at a slower pace than in Southeast Asia and mostly in areas with limited long-term value for the economy.

So far this year, three Chinese companies confirmed the investment of $322 million in textile, apparel and manufacturing sectors, with one of the investors promising to create 30,000 jobs in the textile industry, though without clarifying when the factory will be operational.

Officially, Bangladesh saw 1.7 lakh newly unemployed people, mostly victims of lay off, add to its crippling unemployment problem, one of the key factors that led to last year's uprising, mainly led by youths, bringing down the past Awami League regime.

Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics estima...