Foreign Investments in Bangladesh’s Sea Ports: Risk Assessment Analysis

Reading Time: 5 minutes Bangladesh’s economic trajectory over the past two decades has been defined by rapid industrialisation, export-oriented growth, and a rising volume of international trade. As a geographically strategic nation at the crossroads of South and Southeast Asia, Bangladesh’s maritime infrastructure is critical to sustaining its development momentum. The Chattogram, Mongla, and Payra ports serve as the primary arteries of the country’s trade, collectively handling over 90 percent of its international cargo. Recognising the limitations of current capacity and the urgent need for modernisation, the Government of Bangladesh has sought to attract up to USD 3 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) into port infrastructure, operations, and logistics systems. The Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) has explicitly prioritised FDI in ports as part of a broader strategy to transform the country into a logistics and transhipment hub. However, while the intent is clear, the execution of this vision