Bangladesh breaks ground on $750 million Laldia container terminal

APM Terminals will build a $750 million modern container terminal at Laldia Char in Chattogram, finance and planning minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury said Sunday.

Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, Chowdhury said the government is supporting the project as part of its broader economic agenda and called for greater private-sector participation.

“We have an elected government with an ambitious economic agenda. Achieving a trillion-dollar economy cannot be accomplished by the government alone; the private sector must also step up,” he said.

The terminal will be built on 59.15 acres along the Karnaphuli River and is expected to be completed within three years. It will have annual capacity to handle 900,000 twenty-foot equivalent units and accommodate vessels carrying up to 6,000 units.

Chattogram Port Authority said the port handles 92% of Bangladesh’s imports and exports and more than 98% of container traffic.

The APM Terminals plan was announced in November of last year under the interim government. It now has the support of the Tarique Rahman administration.