Narrative
Full Description
Project narrative
In June 2014, the Prime Minister of Bangladesh’s Office announced plans to have China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) construct the deep seaport at Sonadia as a part of China’s Maritime Silk Road. A June 2014 report from The Financial Express stated that the CHEC would receive either a concessional loan or a preferential buyers credit from the Chinese EXIM bank to fund the project. In January 2012, the cabinet of Bangladesh approved initial plans to create the Sonadia port. Bangladeshi PM Sheikh Hasina visited Beijing in July 2014 and was expected to sign an MoU on the Sonadia port. In February 2016, Bangladesh canceled the Sonadia port project. The official reason for canceling the project was that the Sonadia port would be too close to the Japanese-funded Matarbari port. However, the cancellation also came after Japan, the USA, and India spoke about their security concerns over China developing the port.