Laldia Container Terminal construction set to begin Sunday

The site seleted for the construction of the Laldia Container Terminal at Ctg Port

Dhaka, Aug 29 - The construction of the Laldia Container Terminal at Chattogram Port, one of Bangladesh’s largest public-private partnership (PPP) investments involving more than US$550 million, will formally begin on Sunday with the laying of its foundation stone.

The formal construction of the terminal, being developed with cooperation from Denmark, will begin with a ceremony at the Laldia project site at 11am on Sunday, according to a statement of  the Minsitry of Shipping.

Finance and Planning Minister mir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury , will attend the ceremony as the chief guest, while Shipping Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam, will be present as the special guest.

Chattogram Port is one of the key drivers of Bangladesh's economy, handling the bulk of the country's import and export trade. Authorities said expanding the port's capacity, speeding up container handling and ensuring international-standard services have become increasingly important with the growth of foreign trade.

The Laldia Container Terminal is expected to significantly expand the port's capacity through modern infrastructure and technology-based management. It is also expected to improve the efficiency of port operations and strengthen Bangladesh's international trade and logistics sector.

The terminal will include a container yard, jetty, gates, modern cargo-handling facilities and other necessary infrastructure, it said.

The proposed terminal will have an annual handling capacity of around 0.8 million TEUs and a jetty measuring approximately 615 metres in length.

It will also feature advanced cargo-handling equipment, including state-of-the-art ship-to-shore (STS) cranes, aimed at improving the speed and efficiency of container operations.

The Shipping Ministry has been implementing various initiatives to modernise the country's ports and inland water transport infrastructure and ensure services meet international standards. The Laldia terminal project is considered an important addition to those efforts.

Representatives of various ministries, Chattogram Port Authority, local and foreign companies, business leaders, media and other stakeholders are expected to attend the foundation-laying ceremony. - UNB