Latest in improved foreign relations for India is the fact that Dhaka is cozying up to Delhi and prefers India over China to build new deep sea port. It is a plus for India because, with India's relations with Bangladesh on an upswing, New Delhi has expressed interest in developing the neighbor's newest deep sea port, Payra. And, Bangladesh is, apparently, not averse to the idea.
This has been reported in
timesofindia.indiatimes.com dated 8 February 2016.
The Payra seaport situated on the south-western corner of Bangladesh, close to Chittagong, is much closer to the Indian coastline.
Dhaka has already cancelled a port that China had proposed to build at Sonadia, on the south-eastern corner of Bangladesh. That port, once complete, would have brought the Chinese presence close to India's Andaman and Nicobar Islands. China had prepared a feasibility study for Sonadia and had, reportedly, promised deep funding for the port.
The decision of Bangladesh to cancel participation of China in Sonadia appears to be a strategic decision doubtlessly helped along by India, Japan and the US.
Separately, Japan may develop another deep sea port, Matarbari, in Cox's Bazar.
The Sonadia port, as the Hambantota and Gwadar ports, were believed to be part of China's much talked about "string of pearls" strategy to encircle India in its maritime neighborhood.
The Payra port will take over seven years to build. In order to make it effective, a deep channel would have to be cut through the heavily silted port so that large vessels can come through. The Chittagong port is heavily silted and, only small vessels can come in by taking advantage of incoming and outgoing tides.
Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org
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