In brief
A groundbreaking ceremony on Nov. 6 in southern Bangladesh opened a China‑funded expansion of Mongla Port. The construction, led by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, will add two large berths, digital upgrades and 49 handling machines, raising the port’s annual capacity to about 350,000 TEUs over 42 months. Bangladeshi Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and Chinese officials highlighted the joint effort as a key win for trade and employment.
A groundbreaking ceremony was held on Nov. 6 at the Mongla Port in southwestern Bangladesh to launch a China‑financed expansion project designed to add two large container berths and modernize the facility. The ceremony took place on the port’s premises and was attended by Bangladeshi Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, who opened the ceremony to mark the construction phase.
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman said at the ceremony that the expansion would enhance the port’s overall service capacity, lower logistics costs, boost investment and employment, and promote economic development in the country’s southwestern region. He also highlighted Bangladesh’s long‑standing friendship with China, built on mutual respect and shared development.
China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, a subsidiary of China Railway Construction Corporation, is the contractor for the project. The company said it would build two 20,000‑deadweight‑ton container berths, support container yards and auxiliary facilities, and procure and install 49 sets of port‑handling equipment.
The project is designed to handle roughly 350,000 twenty‑foot equivalent units (TEUs) annually and is slated for completion in 42 months, according to the contractor’s estimates.
Chairman Dai Hegen of the corporation noted that the company would pursue green‑construction practices and strengthen cooperation with local partners to ensure high‑quality project implementation, aiming to transform Mongla Port into a modern maritime hub connecting the Bay of Bengal with the wider South Asian region.
Song Yang, the economic and commercial counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in Bangladesh, said the project represents an important achievement in practical cooperation between the two countries. He added that, upon completion, the expansion will improve the port’s digitalization, modernization, and specialized operations, enhancing overall service capacity and operational efficiency.
No other details about the project remain unconfirmed at present.