“Chinese Involvement in Bangladesh Seaports”
This chapter sheds light on China’s multidimensional and multi-scale involvement in three ports in Bangladesh—Chattogram (previously Chittagong), Mongla, and Payra; China’s work building infrastructure connecting Chattogram and Matarbari ports; and the imbroglio surrounding a potential Chinese deep-sea port project on Sonadia Island. It also details the nature of China’s participation, identifies what has been and remains to be completed, what results have flowed from completed projects in terms of port infrastructure growth and performance, job creation, and technology transfer. It further argues that China’s involvement in Bangladeshi ports exhibits both commercial and geopolitical logics and that Dhaka has welcomed China’s participation because of its contribution to Bangladesh’s economic development. Chinese participation has improved ports performance and efficiency, Bangladesh’s connectivity, and led to job creation and some technology transfer. The chapter demonstrates that Bangladesh has not changed its political relationship with China because of the latter’s involvement in its ports. It shows, too, how the external political environment can weigh on China’s opportunities for participation in a country’s ports. Lastly, the study does not show any instances where China’s presence in Bangladeshi ports has raised sovereignty or debt trap concerns.
“Chinese Involvement in Bangladesh Seaports” is available in Chinese Overseas Ports in Southeast and South Asia (Routledge, 2025) at https://www.routledge.com/Chinese-Overseas-Ports-in-Southeast-and-South-...