Guests attend the groundbreaking ceremony for the expansion and modernization project of Mongla Port facilities at the port in southwestern Bangladesh, on Nov. 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Chen Dongshu)
DHAKA, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- A groundbreaking ceremony for the expansion and modernization project of Mongla Port facilities, undertaken by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, a subsidiary of China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC), was held Thursday at the port in southwestern Bangladesh.
Bangladeshi Prime Minister Tarique Rahman said at the ceremony that the project would further enhance the port's overall service capacity, reduce logistics costs, boost investment and employment, and promote economic development in the country's southwestern region.
The prime minister noted the longstanding friendship between Bangladesh and China is built on mutual respect and shared development, adding that the two countries have carried out practical cooperation in infrastructure, trade and other areas.
Dai Hegen, chairman of the CRCC, said the company would pursue green construction practices and strengthen cooperation with local partners to ensure high-quality project implementation, helping transform Mongla Port into a modern maritime hub connecting the Bay of Bengal and serving the wider South Asian region.
Song Yang, economic and commercial counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Bangladesh, said the project represents an important achievement in practical cooperation between the two countries.
Upon completion, the project will further improve the port's digitalization, modernization and specialized operations, enhance its overall service capacity and operational efficiency, and contribute to deeper bilateral cooperation in infrastructure development, trade and investment, Song said.
According to the contractor, the project includes the construction of two 20,000-deadweight-ton container berths, supporting container yards and auxiliary facilities, as well as the procurement and installation of 49 sets of port-handling equipment.
The project is designed to handle approximately 350,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) annually, with a contractual construction period of 42 months. ■
This photo taken on Nov. 5, 2026 shows the groundbreaking ceremony for the expansion and modernization project of Mongla Port facilities at the port in southwestern Bangladesh. (Xinhua/Chen Dongshu)