Chattogram: The foundation stone of a $550 million Greenfield Container Terminal at Laldia Char in Patenga will be laid tomorrow, marking a major expansion of Chattogram Port's container-handling capacity. This significant development aims to enhance the port's efficiency and accommodate larger vessels, positioning it as a competitive regional hub.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the 49.15-acre terminal, located on the Karnaphuli River bank, will be developed and operated by Denmark-based terminal operator APM Terminals under a public-private partnership (PPP) arrangement. The groundbreaking ceremony will be graced by Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, MP, as the chief guest, and Road Transport and Bridges, Railways, and Shipping Minister Sheikh Rabiul Alam, MP, as a special guest.
The new terminal is poised to increase Chattogram Port's annual container-handling capacity by approximately 800,000 TEUs and facilitate direct handling of container vessels with capacities of up to 6,000 TEUs. Currently, the port handles vessels with capacities of around 2,700 TEUs, as stated by Chattogram Port Authority Secretary Syed Refaet Hamim to BSS. He highlighted that vessels with drafts of 10 metres or more face berthing challenges at Chattogram Port, necessitating the use of regional transshipment hubs like Singapore and Colombo.
"The operationalization of the Laldia Container Terminal will enable the direct handling of larger vessels, reducing dependence on regional transshipment ports and cutting transportation time and costs," Hamim remarked. The terminal will feature a 613-metre container jetty, accommodating vessels with a draft of up to 10.5 metres, and will be equipped with advanced facilities, including seven ship-to-shore gantry cranes, 32 electric rubber-tyred gantry cranes, and 41 electric terminal tractors.
Under the PPP agreement, APM Terminals is tasked with the design, financing, construction, and operation of the facility, while the Chattogram Port Authority retains ownership of the land. The concession period spans 33 years, with three years allocated for construction and 30 years for operation, with a potential 15-year extension subject to compliance with agreement terms.
The Laldia Container Terminal project, first proposed over a decade ago and preliminarily approved in 2013, faced several delays before gaining momentum. Recent progress followed the removal of illegal structures from Laldia Char and the site's transfer to the Chattogram Port Authority. An agreement between APM Terminals and its local partner QNS Container Services Limited was signed on November 17, 2025, to formally advance the project.
State Minister for Land and Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Barrister Mir Mohammad Helal Uddin, MP, expressed optimism about the project's economic benefits. "The project would create new opportunities for the economy by improving port capacity and attracting foreign investment," he stated. The international investment is anticipated to positively influence Bangladesh's investment landscape.
The terminal will be strategically constructed around nine kilometres downstream from existing port facilities, near the Patenga Boat Club area. Of the total project area, approximately 32 acres will be dedicated to the main terminal, with additional land allocated for other facilities.