China-Bangladesh Economic Corridor Expands Influence in Bay of Bengal

In June 2026, Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, where the two sides announced a China‑Myanmar‑Bangladesh Economic Corridor. The proposal envisions a multimodal network linking China’s Yunnan province through Myanmar to Bangladesh’s ports, including highways, railways, pipelines, inland waterways and special economic zones. Cooperation also covers the modernization of Mongla Port, a new Chinese Economic and Industrial Zone in Chattogram, and joint work on the Teesta River management project.

India has expressed unease about the growing Chinese presence on its eastern flank, warning that civilian infrastructure can provide strategic advantages and that projects near the Siliguri Corridor could pose security risks. New Delhi says it will closely monitor developments and take appropriate measures. The corridor, if realised, could reshape trade routes in the Bay of Bengal and affect regional dynamics involving China, Bangladesh, Myanmar, India and broader ASEAN and global powers.