Bangladesh has signed an agreement with a Chinese state-owned company to develop an economic zone on 110 acres near the strategic Mongla Port—land that was originally allocated to India by Seikh Hassina during the height of July Revolution that disposed her.
Mongla Port, Bangladesh’s second-largest seaport, lies just 188 km from Kolkata, making it strategically important for security in the Bay of Bengal.
The Chinese project will include manufacturing units, warehouses, and logistics facilities, significantly expanding Beijing’s economic footprint near India’s eastern coast.
The land was originally earmarked for an Indian economic zone in 2015, but the project was delisted in 2025 after delays and deteriorating India-Bangladesh relations.
Bangladesh has also agreed to deepen cooperation with China on the Teesta River project, located close to India’s strategically vital Siliguri Corridor (Chicken’s Neck).
The twin developments strengthen China’s presence in India’s neighbourhood and could reshape the strategic balance in the Bay of Bengal and the wider Indo-Pacific.
Author: Saikat Bhattacharya
