In the early morning, the mist of the Pasur River did not dissipate, and a cargo ship sailed along the river towards Mongla Port. Before the old berth, containers often queue up at the anchorage. After the Padma Bridge is opened in 2022, the road from Dhaka to the southwest will be closer, but the road will be open and the port will not keep up. Goods will have to wait until they arrive at the door. On November 5, 2026, the modernization and expansion project of Mongla Port facilities undertaken by China Civil Engineering Group Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of China Railway Construction Corporation, began here. Both China and Bangladesh jointly pressed the start button, and the story of the expansion of the old port officially began.

Old port waiting for new berth

Mongla Port is located along the Pasur River in southwestern Bangladesh, about 200 kilometers from the Bay of Bengal, and is the second largest port in the country. Foreign trade containers have been crowded in Jida Port for a long time, where the current annual container processing capacity is about 100000 TEUs, and the location advantage has not been fully utilized. At the ceremony, Bangladeshi Prime Minister Tariq Rahman stated that the project will enhance the comprehensive service capacity of the port, reduce logistics costs, drive investment and employment, and promote economic development in the southwest. He said that the friendship between Bangladesh and China is built on the basis of mutual respect and common development. The two sides have been pragmatic in infrastructure, trade and other fields for a long time, and look forward to China's high standards and high-quality completion of construction.

China Standard Construction of New Port

According to the project contractor, the renovation and expansion project mainly includes the construction of two 20000 ton container berths, supporting yards, and auxiliary facilities, as well as the procurement and installation of 49 sets of port machinery and equipment. The project has a designed annual container handling capacity of approximately 350000 TEUs and a contract period of 42 months. The project utilizes a coastline of approximately 368 meters and is equipped with approximately 227000 square meters of storage yards and a comprehensive command and control center, using Chinese standards, technology, and equipment. China Railway Construction Chairman Dai Hegen stated that he will adhere to green construction and localized cooperation, promote high-quality projects, and help Mongla Port become a modern port hub connecting the Bay of Bengal and radiating to South Asia. Song Yang, Commercial Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in Bangladesh, said that after the completion of the project, it will enhance the digitalization, modernization, and professionalization level of the port, strengthen comprehensive service capabilities and operational efficiency, and make positive contributions to deepening infrastructure construction and economic and trade cooperation between China and Bangladesh.keywords:Engineering infrastructure

One Port Revitalizes Southwest China

The component of the project was written in the consensus as early as: the China Bangladesh Joint Communiqu é in June 2026 made it clear to jointly promote the project, which is also one of the landmark projects to implement the achievements of the Prime Minister of Bangladesh's visit to China and jointly build the the Belt and Road with high quality between China and Bangladesh. China has been the largest trading partner of Bangladesh for several consecutive years and has provided 100% tariff free treatment. Port upgrades are keeping up with trade growth. After completion, maritime transportation will be efficiently connected with highways and railways, logistics costs will decrease, supply chains will become more stable, and investment and employment in the southwest will have a new pivot. The contractor also plans to simultaneously promote the China Bangladesh Mongla Port Economic Zone, using the port to promote the park and the park to gather goods. In 42 months, river cargo ships will no longer have to wait for long, and a modern hub connecting the Bay of Bengal and radiating to South Asia will enter the local daily life.Editor/Yang Meiling