A triple-bottom-line stakeholder alignment approach to evaluating port performance: a case study of Bangladesh

Abstract

This study investigated how stakeholder engagement, economic performance, environmental compliance, social value creation, digital technology adoption, sustainability innovation, and regulatory compliance influence the effectiveness of Bangladeshi seaports. Using structural equation modeling (SEM), the findings showed that Digital Technology Adoption Rate (DTAR) was the strongest predictor of sustainable port performance, followed by Stakeholder Engagement Index (SEI) and Economic Impact Ratio (EIR). Other factors, including social value creation, sustainability innovation, and regulatory compliance, also had significant positive effects, while environmental compliance showed comparatively weaker performance, indicating enforcement gaps. The study emphasizes that greater stakeholder engagement and digital transformation can significantly enhance port sustainability and competitiveness. It recommends adopting IoT, blockchain, and AI technologies, strengthening stakeholder collaboration, improving environmental monitoring, and enhancing intermodal connectivity to support the long-term sustainability and regional competitiveness of Bangladeshi ports.