The event was held on Sunday morning at the Laldia project site on the banks of the Karnaphuli River in Patenga, Chattogram. The project will be implemented and operated under a public-private partnership model through Denmark-based APM Terminals.
Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury was the chief guest at the event. Road Transport and Bridges, Railways and Shipping Minister Sheikh Rabiul Alam was present as the special guest.
The Shipping Minister said the Laldia Container Terminal will not only increase the capacity of Chattogram Port but also herald a new chapter in Bangladesh's port management. Through modern technology, investment and international-standard terminal management, the country's import-export trade will become faster and more efficient.
He informed that about 93 percent of Bangladesh's import-export trade is handled through Chattogram Port. Increasing the port's capacity is essential to meet the growing trade demand. The new terminal will play an important role in this regard.
Under the project, a continuous jetty of about 616 metres long, a modern container yard, entry and exit points, and cargo handling facilities will be built. In addition, modern cranes for unloading cargo from ships to shore and electric rubber-tyred gantry cranes will be installed.
The terminal's annual container handling capacity will be about 800,000 TEUs. With increased capacity to handle large vessels, Bangladesh's connectivity on international shipping routes will also be further strengthened.
The Shipping Minister said the Laldia Terminal will be built as an environment-friendly and sustainable port combining modern technology and green management. This will reduce cargo transit time and logistics costs, as well as enhance the country's commercial competitiveness.
As the Laldia Terminal will be connected to the Dhaka-Chattogram highway, the Karnaphuli Tunnel and Marine Drive Road, its communication with the country's major industrial and commercial centres will be convenient. This will increase efficiency in cargo clearance, container transportation and supply systems.
The minister further said modernisation of Chattogram Port is an ongoing process. Several internationally experienced organisations have expressed interest in developing more terminals and infrastructure. Discussions are being taken forward keeping in mind the country's interests, economy and commercial potential.
It may be mentioned that the project has been taken forward following the cooperation between the governments of Bangladesh and Denmark. After the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the two countries in 2021, various processes of the project were completed. Later, the signing of a concession agreement between Chattogram Port Authority and APM Terminals paved the way for implementation.
The groundbreaking has inaugurated a new chapter in expanding the capacity of Chattogram Port, attracting foreign investment, and building modern port infrastructure.
