Bangladesh Reaffirms Commitment to Chittagong Port Terminal Deal with Danish Firm
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The Bangladeshi government has affirmed its commitment to a long-term agreement with Denmark’s APM Terminals for the construction and operation of the Laldia Container Terminal in Chittagong, despite mounting pressure from local labor organizations and political factions to scrap the deal.
Shipping Minister Sheikh Rabiul Alam told Parliament on Monday that the government has no intention of canceling or renegotiating the contract, which was finalized during the tenure of the interim administration. Under the terms of the agreement, the Danish firm will invest $550 million to develop the terminal and operate it for 30 years, following an initial three-year construction phase. The contract also includes a provision for a 15-year extension.
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Addressing concerns raised by lawmakers regarding the legitimacy of the deal, Minister Alam defended the transparency of the process. He characterized the project as a government-to-government (G2G) public-private partnership, noting that the agreement secured approvals from the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs and the Chief Adviser in November 2025 before the concession agreement was formally signed.
The minister emphasized that the project is designed to enhance Chittagong port’s infrastructure, boost cargo capacity, facilitate technology transfer, and generate significant employment opportunities. He maintained that all procedural requirements were strictly followed during the negotiations.
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Separately, the Shipping Ministry provided an update on the country’s broader maritime strategy, highlighting the progress of the Matarbari deep-sea port. Minister Alam indicated that the facility is on track to become operational by 2029, marking a historic shift in Bangladesh’s trade capabilities. Once complete, the Matarbari port will be able to accommodate mother vessels with a capacity of up to 8,200 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) and bulk carriers of 100,000 deadweight tons. This infrastructure is expected to quadruple the berthing capacity compared to the existing Chittagong port, a development officials believe will transform the nation’s import-export economy.
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