Bangladesh hands over expansion of port near Kolkata to China

Construction of an airbase with Pakistan’s cooperation

Muhammad Yunus and Chinese President Xi Jinping

Dhaka (Bangladesh) – Bangladesh has entrusted China with the responsibility of expanding the Mongla port, which is just 200 km away from Kolkata. This agreement was made during the recent China visit of Mohammad Yunus, the chief advisor to Bangladesh’s interim government. China has promised approximately ₹3,300 crore (INR) for the development of this port.

1.In addition, the Bangladeshi government is building an airbase in the Lalmonirhat district, which is only 120 km away from India’s “Chicken’s Neck” — the Siliguri Corridor (a narrow strip of land about 22 km wide in Bengal that connects the northeastern states of India with the rest of the country). For this airbase, Bangladeshi pilots are being sent to Pakistan to train in flying ‘JF-17’ fighter jets, which are of American design. On March 27, five pilots were sent for this training.

2.China has already supplied submarines to Bangladesh and is now strengthening its presence in the Bay of Bengal. Dr. Faridul Alam, a professor of international affairs at Chittagong University, stated that in today’s world, there is no benefit in maintaining hostility with a large neighbouring country. The Yunus government should maintain peaceful relations with India, or else it will be Bangladesh that suffers the consequences.