As the Bay of Bengal becomes a more disputed venue in the India-China competition, Bangladesh’s decision to replace India with China in the Mongla Port project represents a significant strategic defeat for New Delhi.
Mongla is an important hub in the maritime geopolitics of South Asia due to its close proximity to India’s border and its involvement in regional commerce routeA formal agreement to build the Mongla Port Economic Zone has been inked by Bangladesh and China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation. Under a 2015 bilateral initiative, this project was initially set aside for India; however, in 2025, Dhaka delisted the Indian plan due to delays and failure to start construction. During Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s first official visit to Beijing, China swiftly intervened and secured the agreement.
sAfter Chattogram, Mongla is the second-biggest seaport in Bangladesh. Situated close to the Sundarbans delta, it is less than 200 kilometers from Kolkata and roughly 80 kilometers from the Indian border. Because it offers access to the Bay of Bengal and might be a gateway for India’s landlocked northeastern states, its location makes it strategically important.Branch of the Executive
.In order to lessen reliance on the constricted Siliguri Corridor, India has been permitted to use the ports of Mongla and Chattogram for goods since 2018. China’s accession now poses a danger to this equilibrium.
A crucial arena in the contest between China and India is now the Bay of Bengal. Mongla is a component of Beijing’s larger plan to increase its Belt and Road influence throughout South Asia.
It relates to the proposed Bangladesh-China-Myanmar Economic Corridor, which would link Yunnan province to the Bay of Bengal, and supports Chinese investments in Chattogram. By constructing a network of ports and infrastructure throughout the Indian Ocean, this enhances China’s “String of Pearls” strategy.
The development is alarming for India. The transfer of Mongla to Chinese control is seen by New Delhi as a direct affront to its maritime security interests and “Neighbourhood First” strategy. Concerns over logistics, surveillance, and possible dual-use facilities are raised by the port’s close proximity to the Indian border. Strategically, it might undermine India’s connectivity efforts by shifting regional supply chains and transport flows towards China-centric networks.
In response, India is strengthening a more comprehensive maritime strategy. It has increased collaboration with allies including the United States, Japan, and Australia under the Quad framework and extended naval exercises like MILAN 2026, which involve dozens of warships and planes.
In order to counter China’s influence, India is likewise investing in its own “Necklace of Diamonds” strategy, forming partnerships and port access agreements throughout the Indo-Pacific. India’s resolve to keep a significant presence in the Bay of Bengal is demonstrated by initiatives like BIMSTEC, the Information Fusion Center–Indian Ocean Region, and bilateral exercises like Bongosagar with Bangladesh.
The rise of Mongla highlights how South Asia’s dynamics are changing. Bangladesh is reevaluating its alliances in an effort to attract international investment and fast industrialization.
Beijing has an advantage over India because of China’s infrastructure delivery preparedness in contrast to India’s delays. Making sure that its neighbors view India as a trustworthy development partner is a geopolitical and economic problem for New DelhiAs a contested marine area, the Bay of Bengal is now well-established. It is essential to the Indo-Pacific balance due to its strategic location, shipping lanes, and offshore energy sources.
More than just an industrial zone, the Mongla Port p
roject represents how geopolitics and infrastructure interact to shape South Asia’s future..
