A groundbreaking ceremony was held in the southwestern city of Mongla on Thursday, 6 November 2026, to launch a China‑financed expansion of the country’s coastal gateway. The event drew Bangladeshi Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, representatives from China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCEC) and Chinese diplomatic personnel to mark the start of a project that aims to add two large container berths and modern digital infrastructure to the port.
Groundbreaking Ceremony
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman opened the ceremony with remarks that highlighted the long‑standing friendship between Bangladesh and China. He said the project would "enhance the port’s overall service capacity, reduce logistics costs, boost investment and employment, and promote economic development in Bangladesh’s southwestern region."
Tarique Rahman said: "The project will further enhance the port's overall service capacity, reduce logistics costs, boost investment and employment, and promote economic development in the country's southwestern region."
Dai Hegen, chairman of China Railway Construction Corporation, who chair the project through its subsidiary CCEC, spoke next. He underscored the company’s commitment to green construction and local partnership. He added that the work would "help transform Mongla Port into a modern maritime hub connecting the Bay of Bengal and serving the wider South Asian region."
Dai Hegen said: "The company will pursue green construction practices and strengthen cooperation with local partners to ensure high‑quality project implementation, helping transform Mongla Port into a modern maritime hub connecting the Bay of Bengal and serving the wider South Asian region."
Song Yang, the Chinese Embassy’s economic and commercial counselor, emphasized that the expansion represented an "important achievement in practical cooperation between the two countries." He highlighted the potential for deeper bilateral ties through shared infrastructure development, trade, and investment.
Song Yang said: "The project represents an important achievement in practical cooperation between the two countries, and upon completion, it will improve the port's digitalization, modernization, and specialized operations, enhancing its overall service capacity and operational efficiency."
Project Scope and Impact
The Beijing‑based contractor described the expansion as a 42‑month effort to add two 20,000‑deadweight‑ton container berths, a supporting container yard, auxiliary facilities, and 49 sets of port‑handling equipment. The design capacity will allow the port to handle approximately 350,000 twenty‑foot equivalent units (TEUs) per year, with significant digital upgrades to streamline operations.
State‑owned China’s CRCC, through CCEC, will also focus on green construction techniques and close collaboration with local partners to ensure quality and sustainability. The expansion aims to cut cargo processing times, lower logistics costs for Bangladesh’s trade partners, and create jobs in the region.
Observers note that the project will strengthen Bangladesh’s position as a maritime gateway in South Asia and open new trade routes to the Bay of Bengal, potentially boosting regional commerce and foreign investment.
The ceremony concluded with a collective promise to deepen cooperation in infrastructure, trade, and investment, signaling a new chapter in Bangladesh‑China international relations.
