Staff Correspondent

The formal construction of the long-awaited Laldia Container Terminal at Chattogram Port—a landmark $550 million project executed under a public-private partnership (PPP) with Danish collaboration—is set to kick off on Sunday (Today).

The foundation stone laying ceremony will take place at 11:00 AM at the Laldia project site in Patenga, Chattogram. Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury is scheduled to attend the event as the chief guest, while Shipping, Road Transport and Bridges, and Railways Minister Sheikh Rabiul Alam will grace the occasion as the special guest.

Being developed as a modern, environment-friendly "green terminal," the project marks one of the largest foreign direct investments (FDIs) and PPP ventures in Bangladesh's port sector history.

According to project blueprints, the terminal will feature a 615-metre-long jetty and boast an estimated annual handling capacity of approximately 0.8 million TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units). To maximize operational efficiency and safety, the facility will utilize cutting-edge technologies, including state-of-the-art ship-to-shore (STS) cranes and remotely operated crane systems.

The initiative aims to significantly alleviate pressure on the primary seaport, which handles the lion's share of Bangladesh's import-export trade. Officials noted that the expanded infrastructure will streamline supply chains, reduce turnaround times, and future-proof the nation's logistics network to support rising international trade volumes.

High-ranking government officials, representatives from the Chattogram Port Authority (CPA), delegates from Denmark-based APM Terminals, local business leaders, and industry stakeholders are expected to attend tomorrow's inaugural event.