Photo : BSS

CHATTOGRAM, Aug 29, 2026 (BSS) - 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.

The 49.15-acre terminal, to be built on the Karnaphuli River bank, will be developed and operated by Denmark-based terminal operator APM Terminals under a public-private partnership (PPP) arrangement.

Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, MP, will attend the groundbreaking ceremony as chief guest at 11am tomorrow, while Road Transport and Bridges, Railways, and Shipping Minister Sheikh Rabiul Alam, MP, will attend as special guest.

The terminal is expected to increase Chattogram Port's annual container-handling capacity by around 800,000 TEUs and enable direct handling of container vessels with capacities of up to 6,000 TEUs.

Chattogram Port Authority Secretary Syed Refaet Hamim told BSS that the port currently handles vessels with capacities of around 2,700 TEUs.

He said vessels with drafts of 10 metres or more cannot currently berth at Chattogram Port, forcing Bangladeshi export-import cargo to be transported through regional transshipment hubs such as Singapore and Colombo using smaller vessels.

"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," he said.

The terminal will have a 613-metre container jetty capable of accommodating vessels with a draft of up to 10.5 metres. It will be equipped with seven ship-to-shore (STS) gantry cranes, 32 electric rubber-tyred gantry (ERTG) cranes and 41 electric terminal tractors.

Under the PPP agreement, APM Terminals will design, finance, construct and operate the facility, while ownership of the land will remain with the Chattogram Port Authority.

The concession period is 33 years, including three years for construction and 30 years of operation. The agreement may be extended by another 15 years subject to satisfactory compliance with its terms.

The project was first proposed more than a decade ago and received preliminary approval in 2013. Its implementation was delayed for various reasons before gaining momentum following the removal of illegal structures from Laldia Char and the site's transfer to the Chattogram Port Authority.

The project formally moved forward with the signing of an agreement between APM Terminals and its local partner QNS Container Services Limited on November 17, 2025.

State Minister for Land and Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Barrister Mir Mohammad Helal Uddin, MP, told BSS that the project would create new opportunities for the economy by improving port capacity and attracting foreign investment.

He said the $550 million investment by an international terminal operator would also send a positive signal to potential foreign investors about Bangladesh's investment prospects.

"I am optimistic that the Laldia Terminal will be completed on schedule, making Chattogram Port more modern and competitive," he said.

The terminal will be constructed around nine kilometres downstream from the existing port facilities, near the Patenga Boat Club area. Of the total project area, around 32 acres will be used for the main terminal, with the remaining land allocated for other facilities.