The China-Bangladesh Economic Zone project, initially discussed during Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Dhaka in 2016, is finally moving forward after a decade of delays. The project, to be established on 783 acres of land in Anwara, Chittagong, is expected to create around 100,000 jobs and attract $500 million in investment. The National Economic Council is set to consider the project in its upcoming meeting. The total cost is estimated at 4,189 crore BDT, with 2,467 crore BDT coming from Chinese assistance. The project aims to diversify Bangladesh's export portfolio and includes infrastructure development such as roads, electricity lines, and a jetty.
Project Details and Timeline
The project is expected to begin in January 2027 and be completed by 2031. It includes the construction of 20 km of electricity transmission lines, 12-meter-wide roads, a 12 km boundary wall, a 1,200-meter jetty, 2 km of gas lines, and water conservation and treatment facilities. The Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) will collaborate with the China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) for development, with BEZA holding a 30% stake and CRBC holding 70%.
Challenges and Delays
The project faced numerous challenges, including contractor appointment issues and land acquisition complications. Initially, the China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) was tasked with infrastructure development, but the contract was not finalized. Allegations of bribery against CHEC led to the appointment of CRBC as the new developer in 2022. The project's delay was also attributed to it not being a government priority until recently.
