China Can Use Bangladesh’s Largest Seaports, PM Hasina Says

Kamran Reza Chowdhury
2019.11.13
Dhaka
191113_PM_ports_china_1000.jpg Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina delivers a speech at parliament in Dhaka, Nov. 13, 2019.
Focus Bangla

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina told lawmakers Wednesday that China could use Bangladesh’s two largest seaports, in a move praised by analysts, weeks after Dhaka signed an agreement with Beijing’s regional rival, India, for access to the same ports.

Hasina issued the statement while announcing that Dhaka and New Delhi had signed a deal known as the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), which would ease the flow of cargo destined to northeastern Indian states.

“We will welcome it if the southwestern states of China show interest in using the two ports,” Hasina replied when a legislator asked if Beijing would also be given access to the ports.

India’s seven northeastern states, encircled by five countries, are connected by a sliver of land that arches over Bangladesh. By providing access to the two ports, Bangladesh would be transformed into “a hub of regional trade and connectivity,” Hasina said.

“To achieve these goals, an SOP has been signed with India. So, India can use the two ports [Chittagong and Mongla] for its export-import trade,” Hasina said. “I hope, the northeastern states of India would exploit the opportunity.”

She said landlocked Bhutan and Nepal might also be given access to the ports in the “near future.”

‘A win-win for all’

China began taking steps in recent years to expand its footprint in Bangladesh’s economy and energy sectors. Beijing outpaced the United States as Bangladesh’s top investor in 2018, during which Dhaka recorded U.S. $3.6 billion in foreign direct investments, according to official figures obtained by BenarNews.

“I think, the prime minister’s declaration of welcoming China for port use is a timely decision,” Ambassador Humayun Kabir, the acting president of the Bangladesh Enterprise Institute, a local think-tank, told BenarNews. “The announcement reflects the people’s desire.”

Bangladesh and India signed a memorandum of agreement on the use of Chittagong and Mongla ports in June 2015, but the two countries signed the SOP last month.

Kabir said this marked the first time that Bangladesh had expressed interest in allowing China to use its ports.

“By offering China to use Chittagong and Mongla ports, the prime minister has passed on a message that we are not connected with only one country, India,” he said. “We want to be connected with China and other countries, too.”

Opening up the ports would not only benefit Bangladesh but also India, China, Bhutan and Nepal, the diplomat said.

“This is a win-win for all,” he said.

Since Bangladesh won its independence from Pakistan in 1971, India had been seeking access to its seven landlocked states via Bangladesh.

In 2011, Hasina and her then-Indian counterpart, Manmohan Singh, announced in a joint statement that New Delhi would use Bangladesh ports to transport goods to India’s northeastern states, but a final agreement had not been signed.

Delwar Hossain, a Dhaka University professor, said Bangladesh’s move would help the nation maintain a balance in its relations with India and China.

“Bangladesh does not want to make the port for use by any specific country. The facility is open to all interested countries,” he said.

China is one of Bangladesh’s largest trading partners, with bilateral trade reaching about U.S. $12 billion annually, with the imbalance tilted heavily in Beijing’s favor. The Bangladeshi Army has been equipped with Chinese tanks, its navy uses Chinese frigates and its air force flies Chinese fighter jets.

A Chinese-built solar power plant recently started supplying electricity to Bangladesh’s national grid, and Beijing-based China National Machinery Import and Export Corporation (CMC) also began producing 500 megawatts of electricity across the nation.

Beijing will also help Bangladesh construct its first submarine base, but Chinese subs will not use the facility, a leading member of parliamentary committees on foreign policy and defense told BenarNews in September.

The future base, which will be built in a southeastern district on the Bay of Bengal and financed by Bangladesh, will house two Chinese-made submarines purchased by Dhaka from Beijing in 2016, retired Col. Faruk Khan said, adding that Bangladesh was not taking sides in a regional rivalry between India and China.

During Hasina’s visit to Beijing in July, Bangladesh and China inked several agreements including one that relates to China’s extension of loans worth U.S. $1.7 billion for Bangladesh’s power sector, local reports said.

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samir sardana
Mar 13, 2021 05:08 AM

The path to Salvation for Bangla,is PRC. They have to let the PRC invest in the Gas and Power infra sector, to produce power at the LOWEST COST IN ASIA.In the time to set up the capacities,the ports can be deep dredged and the road infra be put in order.Once that is in place - the lowest cost manufacturing in THE WORLD, will be in Bangladesh.

The Edge of Bangladesh,is Gas and the Sea (which makes for Offshore wind and tidal,low freight costs) - and combine that,with the power potential in Myanmar - and its cross border wheeling.

The only issue is the rising sea and the soft soil - and so,manufacturing will need to move into the interiors,or power can be wheeled to Myanmarese SEZs.The Bangla success,will wipe out the ENTIRE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY IN NORTH EAST INDIA,AND THE ENTIRE EAST COAST OF INDIA.

Basically the Bangla state,has to allow Chinese,Korean and Japanese SEZs on an unrestricted basis,with limited NFE and Taxation - and the Taka will overshoot the Thai Baht and Peso,in 5 -10 years.

That will complete the Chinese Triad and the Chinese Parallel in South Asia.

The Chinese Triad is CPEC,Lanka SEZ and the Bangaladesh SEZ.Industry and manufacturing will migrate from Pakistan to Lanka to Chittagong, on a value addition mode,on an absolute basis.Dhaka will lose its LDC soon,and so,those units can be relocated in Lanka or CPEC.So Chinese SEZ in Bangla,Lanka and CPEC will wipe out the industry in the East,West and South of India - and the impact of that on banking,unemployment and inflation in India,is obvious.

So there is a successful Chinese SEZ Triad

The Chinese Parallel is a line from CPEC to the Deep Draft Port of Myanmar,with its SEZ.The intersection of the Chinese Parallel and the Chinese Triad,is the CRUCIFIXION of the Satanic nation of Hindoosthan

East Bengal,Assam,Tripura and Manipur belong to Bangladesh.The 1st Ahom king was a Chinese,Arunachal are Hans and the rest are South Tibetans,and so,North East belongs to China

Bangladesh ports are the IDEAL PORT TO BYPASS MALACCA,and exit the LOGISTICS TRAP OF THE US NAVY.It is a better option to Gwadar.Then come the ports in Myanmar,and then comes in Gwadar.Gwadar is viable,when Kashmir is an independent nation,Afghan is under Taliban rule (as a US puppet,can block Chinese logistics) and Baloch is under Control.

That provides the pretext to the Chinese,to station the PLN,in The Bay of Bengal,Arabian Sea and build Artificial Islands in the Bay of Bengal,and Indian Ocean.

Once North East India is lost - the Indian weasels will give up Kashmir and Uttarakhand

Hence,the Chinese logistics and economic security strategy,will provide salvation to the People of Pakistan, Bangladesh,Lanka and Myanmar.This is providence and salvation.

A Mahayana Buddhist nation (PRC) is providing salvation to 2 Islamic nations and 2 nations of Theravada or hinayana Buddhism.dindooohindoo