Chinese Companies Help Rejuvenate Major Seaport in Bangladesh

Despite COVID-19, Chinese and Bangladeshi technicians are working hard to help rejuvenate Mongla, Bangladesh's second largest seaport.

Due to increasing congestion in Bangladesh's largest Chattogram seaport, many international shipping firms have turned to Mongla as an alternative.

Also, Mongla is set to emerge as an attractive gateway because of the construction of the country's largest Padma Bridge and Padma Rail Link. The two major projects in Bangladesh are expected to connect the port to the national capital Dhaka.

But the port is currently underutilized due to the navigability problem of its key Pashur channel.

The situation prompted the deal between the Mongla port authority and China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC).

They signed a deal in 2020, aiming at enabling the inner bar of the Mongla port channel to allow the anchoring of container ships with 10 m draft. The current depth of the channel is less than 5.5 meters, which can only handle ships with a draft of 7-7.5 meters during high tide.

The Chinese joint venture firm of CCECC and Jianshu Haihong Construction Engineering Company Limited has been tasked with the dredging project.

Rear Admiral M Musa, chairman of the Mongla port authority, says the project is expected to finish in June 2023.