Danish support backs new Laldia container terminal

Image- Collected

Construction of the $550 million Laldia Container Terminal at Chittagong Port is scheduled to begin Sunday with Danish support, marking a major step in expanding the country’s port capacity.

The formal launch will take place at the project site in Patenga, with Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury and Shipping Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam expected to attend, according to the shipping ministry.

The government says the project is aimed at increasing container-handling capacity, improving port efficiency and introducing modern infrastructure and technology-driven management as Bangladesh’s international trade continues to grow.

The terminal is being developed under a public-private partnership (PPP) model, with total investment exceeding $550 million. The ministry describes it as one of the largest PPP investments in Bangladesh.

The facility will include a container yard, jetty, gates and modern cargo-handling infrastructure. It is expected to handle around 0.8 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) annually and will have a jetty measuring approximately 615 metres.

Modern shore-to-ship cranes and advanced cargo-handling systems will also be installed to improve container movement and operational efficiency.

The government expects the terminal to strengthen Chittagong Port’s infrastructure and help make Bangladesh’s import-export and logistics operations faster and more efficient.

Plans to involve foreign operators in port operations and infrastructure development during the previous interim government had faced criticism and protests from political parties. The government later decided to develop the Laldia terminal with Danish support.