Bangladesh’s decision to award a major port development contract to Denmark’s Maersk Group has emerged as a potential setback to China’s ambitions to expand its strategic footprint in the Bay of Bengal, according to a report published by Bricklane News.
The report said China had been expected to play a key role in developing Bangladesh’s Mongla Port following discussions during Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s visit to Beijing in June. Under the proposed China-funded project, two state-of-the-art container jetties equipped with modern cargo-handling machinery would be constructed to enhance the port’s capacity and operational efficiency.
However, in a significant development, the Chittagong Port Authority has entered into a 30-year agreement with Denmark-based Maersk Group for the development of the Laldia Container Terminal at Chittagong Port.
Under the public-private partnership (PPP) framework, Maersk will be responsible for designing, financing, building and operating the terminal, bringing a major global port and shipping player into Bangladesh’s port infrastructure development plans.
The move highlights Bangladesh’s efforts to attract international expertise and investment to modernise its maritime infrastructure, strengthen container-handling capacity and improve port efficiency.
It also reflects the growing strategic and commercial significance of Bangladesh’s seaports, particularly their role in regional trade and connectivity across the Bay of Bengal.
While China continues to pursue infrastructure partnerships in the region, Bangladesh’s engagement with global port operators from other countries underscores the increasingly competitive landscape surrounding port development and maritime connectivity in South Asia.