The Teesta Project

There have been suggestions of negotiations taking place regarding the synergy of the Teesta project and that of Phulbari , in part, because of it’s proximity to Phulbari and the obvious potential to utilise the Phulbari overburden in the construction work there, the fact that the contractor for both is Power China  is also seen as significant.

 

Not only will the enormous Teesta River Project transform the river basin to prevent flooding, it will also reclaim over 170 square kilometers of land. The reclaimed land is intended for the construction of satellite towns, industrial parks (including garment factories, textile mills, and fertilizer plants), and residential areas, aimed at boosting local economies.

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The project includes the construction of almost 203 km of embankments, 224 km of roads, marine drives, jetties, and bridges to enhance transportation and connectivity in the northern region of Bangladesh.

 

The development will create new jobs, initially 8,000 with estimates suggesting figures up to 800,000  as expansion and industrialisation develops, 30% of non-technical work will be reserved for locals, alongside improving agricultural productivity by expanding irrigation. plans to restore the ecosystem, create green corridors, and establish tourist attractions such as hotels, motels, and restaurants along the banks, transforming the area into a, "seaside-like" resort. There are plans for an IT park, an IT college, state of the art broadband facilities and a new University in Nilphamari.

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In addittion there will be a 1000 bed state of the art ‘Bangladesh China Friendship Hospital’ built in the city of Nilphamari, an area itself regularly affected by flooding from the Teesta. Nilphamari situated by the Teesta river is only 36 miles from Phulbari. The  Interim Governments Chief Adviser, Muhammad Yunus, said the hospital is expected to emerge as a major regional healthcare hub and medical tourism destination for patients from foreign countries. It will directly employ almost 900 Doctors, 1200 nurses and 1400 technical and ancillary staff. To become a viable medical tourism destination will require massive development in the area, not only with transport infrastructure but the building of residential accommodation, hotels, entertainment and hospitality venues and the facilities for those that will work in them.

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The involvement of China in a strategically sensitive area close to India's "Siliguri Corridor" (Chicken's Neck) introduces a significant geopolitical dimension, potentially altering regional power dynamics.

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To maintain control over the newly developed areas, the plans include establishing police stations, Coast Guard outposts, and army camps along the riverbanks along with the regeneration of a military airfield.

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The infrastructure and development construction over the projects timeline, starting in 2026, will require huge amounts of construction materials, part of which it is speculated will be from the nearby Phulbari mines overburden. Both these projects are being developed with the explicit intention of being included in China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and specifically through their partnership with Chinas’ state-owned enterprise Power China.

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China has stated it will expand rail projects in Bangladesh ready for the  project, doing so could also facilitate the transportation of the required construction plant to Phulbari and of Phulbari coal to existing coal power plants

 

Considering the proximity of both projects, the realities of supply and demand, the need for road and rail connections to the ports in the south, the same contractor , the Chinese state backing and funding then the speculation on the synergy between the two becomes apparent. 

 

Power China

Power China, is a Chinese state owned enterprise, turning over $88 billion last year, is the 7th biggest engineering and construction company in the world, with its expertise heavily focused on energy and infrastructure, including railways, roads, power stations and cities, it currently has over 70 million square metres of building under construction around the world