Published : 27 Sep 2026, 05:16 PM
Updated : 27 Sep 2026, 05:16 PM
Bangladesh has proposed a direct road corridor linking Chattogram with Kunming through Myanmar, opening a shorter overland route to China’s southwest.
The 1,200-kilometre connection could cut the time and cost of moving goods while giving regional trade and supply chains a new boost.
Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir made the proposal at a meeting with a high-level delegation from China's Yunnan Province in Dhaka on Sunday.
He said the proposed road could enable goods to reach Kunming from Chattogram in about 24 hours, while strengthening trade and supply chains among Bangladesh, Myanmar and southwestern China.
The meeting was held at the Secretariat and was led by Yunnan Executive Vice-Governor Zhao Junmin.
"This will reduce transport costs while making regional trade and supply chains among Bangladesh, Myanmar and southwestern China more dynamic," he said, according to a ministry statement.
Describing Yunnan as an important potential market for Bangladesh, Muktadir said its geographical proximity offered considerable scope to increase Bangladeshi exports.
He stressed the need to quickly introduce proposed duty-free bonded warehouse and exhibition facilities to facilitate Bangladeshi products' entry into Yunnan's market of about 46.4 million people.
The meeting also highlighted growth in bilateral trade, which exceeded 1.3 billion yuan between Yunnan and Bangladesh in 2025.
Zhao said Bangladesh was the first South Asian country to come under Yunnan's special trade facilitation policy.
The province plans to provide bonded warehouses, exhibition centres and different customs facilities for Bangladeshi products, he said, adding that these would be implemented soon.
He also said a location had been selected in Yunnan to display Bangladeshi products under an MoU between Yunnan's commerce department and Bangladesh's Export Promotion Bureau, and urged Bangladeshi entrepreneurs to make use of the facility.
The meeting also discussed expanding direct cargo air links. Bangladesh could export jute and jute goods, leather products, frozen fish, fruit and other agricultural products to Yunnan, while importing flowers, fertiliser and animal feed from the province.
Participants said direct cargo links with northeastern Bangladesh could create new opportunities for trade in perishable agricultural products.
Muktadir also invited Chinese investment, particularly from women entrepreneurs in Yunnan, and sought the province's help in developing a modern park in Sylhet modelled on Kunming's parks after the government initiative to turn the old Sylhet jail into a park.
Commerce Ministry Secretary Md Ataur Rahman Khan, Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen and senior officials from the ministry and Chinese embassy attended the meeting.
