PM to lay foundation of Tk 4,068 cr Mongla Port Expansion and Modernization Project tomorrow
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is scheduled to lay the foundation stone of the Tk 4,068 crore Mongla Port Expansion and Modernization Project on Thursday marking a significant milestone in the government's efforts to transform the country's second-largest seaport into a modern regional trade and logistics hub.
The project is expected to significantly enhance the port's container-handling capacity, strengthen maritime connectivity, facilitate international trade and attract investment to southwestern Bangladesh. It is also expected to create new opportunities for industrial development, economic growth and employment generation in the region.
The Tk 4,068.23 crore project, formally titled "Expansion and Modernization of Mongla Port Facilities," is being implemented by the Mongla Port Authority (MPA) under the Ministry of Shipping.
China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), a subsidiary of China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC), has been appointed as the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contractor for the project.
The project is being financed jointly by the governments of Bangladesh and China. The Chinese government is providing a concessional loan of approximately US$335.78 million through the Export-Import Bank of China.
The Minister for Shipping Shaikh Rabiul Alam and State Minister for Shipping Md Razib Ahsan are expected to attend the foundation-stone-laying ceremony, along with senior government officials, representatives of the Chinese Embassy, CRCC and CCECC, and other distinguished guests.
The ministers are expected to highlight the strategic importance of the project in strengthening Bangladesh's maritime infrastructure, accelerating industrial development, generating employment and unlocking the economic potential of the country's southwestern region.
The expansion project includes the construction of two modern container jetties, numbered 10 and 11, with a combined quay length of 368 metres, along with advanced cargo-handling facilities and supporting infrastructure.
Upon completion, the new facilities are expected to have an annual container-handling capacity of approximately 394,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs). The terminal will also feature an 87,600-square-metre loaded container yard, a 34,170-square-metre empty container yard and a 4,260-square-metre hazardous cargo-handling yard. These facilities are expected to significantly improve cargo management, operational efficiency and the overall handling capacity of the Port.
The project's financing framework was established during Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's visit to China on June 25, 2026, when the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA) and Bangladesh's Economic Relations Division (ERD) signed a framework agreement.
Subsequently, on October 10, Bangladesh signed a loan agreement worth RMB 2.404 billion, equivalent to approximately Tk 3,592.90 crore, with the Export-Import Bank of China to finance the project.
Ahead of the foundation-stone-laying ceremony, a high-level Chinese delegation led by CRCC Chairman Dai Hegen is scheduled to hold a courtesy meeting with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Thursday.
The meeting is expected to focus on expanding bilateral investment cooperation, particularly in infrastructure development, industrial investment, economic zones and employment generation.
Representatives of Invest Bangladesh are also expected to participate in the meeting. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on investment cooperation between Invest Bangladesh and China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC) is scheduled to be signed, establishing a framework for further cooperation and potential Chinese investment in Bangladesh.
The proposed agreement is expected to strengthen economic ties between Bangladesh and China and create new opportunities for cooperation in major infrastructure and industrial development projects. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's scheduled visit to Mongla on Thursday will take place just two weeks after his previous visit to the area on October 22.
The two visits within a short period underscore the government's focus on accelerating infrastructure development, attracting foreign investment and strengthening the economic prospects of southwestern Bangladesh.
The Mongla Port expansion and modernization project is considered an important initiative to enhance Bangladesh's regional trade competitiveness, improve connectivity with neighbouring markets and support the country's long-term economic development.
