In brief
On November 6, 2026, officials in southwestern Bangladesh marked the start of a China‑financed expansion of Mongla Port. The project, run by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, will add two 20,000‑deadweight‑ton container berths and upgrade digital systems to lift the port’s annual capacity to about 350,000 TEU. The ceremony, attended by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and Chinese representatives, highlighted the construction’s potential to reduce logistics costs, generate employment, and strengthen Bangladesh‑China trade ties.
A groundbreaking ceremony marked the start of a China‑financed expansion of Mongla Port in southwestern Bangladesh, as officials from both Bangladesh and China announced the addition of two new container berths that will boost the port’s capacity to 350,000 TEU per year.
The ceremony was held on Thursday, November 6, 2026, at the port’s facilities of the Bagerhat district. The event was covered by Xinhua and opened with speeches from Bangladeshi Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and representatives from China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CRCC), a subsidiary of China Railway Construction Corporation.
Prime Minister Rahman emphasized that the project would 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. He described the long‑standing friendship between Bangladesh and China as built on mutual respect and shared development, noting that the two countries have carried out practical cooperation in infrastructure, trade and other areas.
Dai Hegen, chairman of CRCC, told the press that the company would pursue green construction practices and strengthen cooperation with local partners to ensure high‑quality project implementation. He said the work would help transform Mongla Port into a modern maritime hub connecting the Bay of Bengal and serving the wider South Asian region.
Song Yang, economic and commercial counselor 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 project would further improve the port’s digitalization, modernization and specialized operations, enhance its overall service capacity and operational efficiency, and contribute to deeper bilateral cooperation in infrastructure development, trade and investment.
The contractor’s brief outlines the expansion as consisting of two 20,000‑deadweight‑ton container berths, supporting container yards and auxiliary facilities, and the procurement and installation of 49 sets of port‑handling equipment. The project is designed to handle approximately 350,000 TEU annually and carries a contractual construction period of 42 months.
According to the project plan, the new berths will allow the port to receive and discharge larger vessels, thereby expanding trade links with other parts of the country and the wider region. The upgraded digital systems aim to streamline berth allocation, cargo tracking, and customs clearance, which should reduce turnaround times and logistics costs.
The expansion is also expected to generate employment opportunities during the construction phase and for ongoing port operations once the project is complete. Local businesses in the surrounding area are anticipated to benefit from increased cargo traffic and related services.
In summary, the opening of the expansion project signals a deepening partnership between Bangladesh and China in infrastructure development, and it is projected to enhance regional trade flows, create jobs, and strengthen Bangladesh’s position as a growing maritime hub in South Asia.
