Bangladesh has officially launched construction of the Laldia Container Terminal at Chattogram Port, a project expected to strengthen the country’s trade infrastructure and enhance its role in regional commerce.
Speaking at the foundation stone ceremony on Sunday, Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury described the terminal as a significant step toward Bangladesh’s long-term economic ambitions. He said the facility would not only benefit Chattogram and Bangladesh but could also serve as an important logistics and trade hub for the wider region.
The project is being developed with an investment of approximately $550 million by APM Terminals, the Denmark-based global port operator and a subsidiary of the A.P. Moller Group.
Boosting trade and investment
The minister said Bangladesh aims to create a stronger investment climate and attract more international partners to support economic growth. According to him, large-scale infrastructure projects such as the Laldia Terminal are expected to increase the country’s competitiveness in global trade.
He noted that Chattogram’s reputation as Bangladesh’s commercial center has grown through expanding business activity and foreign investment, adding that similar projects could further strengthen the city’s economic importance.
The minister also highlighted the government’s broader economic agenda, emphasizing efforts to build a more resilient and investment-friendly economy through long-term planning and private-sector participation.
Regional logistics hub
Officials believe the new terminal will have benefits beyond Bangladesh’s borders. Once operational, it is expected to provide additional container-handling capacity and could potentially support trade flows involving neighboring countries and regional ports.
The project is also seen as part of Bangladesh’s strategy to expand maritime infrastructure and accommodate growing import and export volumes.
Advanced technology and green operations
APM Terminals Chief Executive Officer Ramesh David said the facility will incorporate modern port technology and equipment designed to improve efficiency and cargo handling capacity.
According to project details, the terminal will include:
Seven ship-to-shore gantry cranes
Thirty-two electric rubber-tyred gantry cranes
Forty-one electric terminal tractors
The use of electric equipment is expected to support more environmentally sustainable port operations while increasing productivity.
Expanding Chattogram Port’s capacity
Chattogram Port Authority Chairman Rear Admiral S.M. Moniruzzaman said the port currently handles the overwhelming majority of Bangladesh’s seaborne trade and container traffic.
He expressed confidence that container throughput at the port could double within the next decade and welcomed international investment as a key driver of future growth.
Government officials, business leaders, diplomats and representatives of the maritime sector attended the ceremony, which concluded with the formal inauguration of the terminal’s construction.
The Laldia Container Terminal is expected to become one of Bangladesh’s most significant port infrastructure projects and a major addition to the country’s expanding trade network.
