Laldia Container Terminal Lease: A Potential Turning Point for Bangladesh’s Economy!

The Laldia Container Terminal is located at Patenga in Chattogram (Chittagong), Bangladesh, on the right bank and upper estuary of the Karnaphuli River. This is the main seaport of Bangladesh, which is the larger portion of the Chattogram Port complex. A concession deal was negotiated with the Danish company APM Terminals to design, finance, construct, and run the terminal, which is a new development project. The terminal is anticipated to be completely operational by 2030, along with 33 years of responsibility to maintain it. The duration might be extended another 15 years in the future as noted in the agreement. On the 17th of November 2025, under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) on a government-to-government (G2G) basis, the Laldia Terminal is being handed over to Denmark’s APM Terminals under the supervision of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a World Bank affiliate.

Now the debate is whether it is a geographical threat to Bangladesh or not. To understand the scenario, one needs to know about the dealing partner. APM Terminals is a fully owned subsidiary of the globally renowned A.P. Moller–Maersk Group. It operates 10 of the world’s top 20 ports and is currently managing more than 60 terminals across 33 countries. Its operations span several European countries as well as Vietnam, Singapore, and China. The company also has operational experience in India. APM Terminals manages one terminal at the Nhava Sheva Jawaharlal Nehru Port in Mumbai, and it has also been operating the Pipavav cargo port. Although APM Terminals is a Danish company, it is registered in the Netherlands. The company’s headquarters are located in The Hague, the capital city of the Netherlands. Because it is registered there, the company must comply with Dutch regulations. The Netherlands is widely recognized around the world for its strong commitment to environmental protection and ecological responsibility. Considering this reputation in environmental governance, it is difficult to find a better option than APM Terminals in this regard.

Now, the point is how Bangladesh is going to make the turnout of its economy through making this deal successful. An over half a billion dollar investment, the largest port of the country, boosted by 44% along with creating thousands of job opportunities. Regarding foreign Direct Investment (FDI), the largest European private investment in Bangladesh's history, APM Terminals, is anticipated to contribute $550 million in foreign direct investment (FDI), indicating strong international trust in the nation's port industry. In case of a capacity boost, by 2030, the Laldia terminal will be able to handle more than 8,00000+ containers annually, reducing traffic at Chattogram Port and satisfying the increasing need for commerce. The Chittagong Port Authority and the government will receive more money from handling fees, taxes, and maritime services as a result of more effective cargo processing. Regarding Employment and Skill development with Technological innovation, through Maersk’s advanced technology, local managers, engineers and other workers will be trained and able to get the knowledge of port management, whereas 700-800 direct job vacancies will be created. Logistics costs will be lowered by quicker vessel turnover and less traffic, which will help exporters in the textile industry and other time-sensitive industries maintain their competitiveness. Regarding the agreement, Shipping Adviser Sakhawat Hossain said that over the past 12 years, the Pangaon Terminal has incurred losses of around Tk 300 crore. Each year, it faced losses of approximately Tk 22 crore. With the implementation of this agreement, a renewed and modernized form of the Laldia Container Terminal will be seen and able to avoid loss like Pangaon terminal.

Is there any geographical threat? Government officials and supporters stress that the terminal will remain owned by the Chattogram Port Authority(CPA) and the Bangladesh government. APM Terminals is only leasing it for 30–33 years under a PPP model, after which full control returns to the state. APM Terminals is investing over $550 million to build and operate the terminal, with no loans involved, avoiding debt risks or equity loss like Sri Lanka’s Hambantota port. Business groups and experts support the deal, saying foreign expertise and investment will modernize the port, boost capacity, cut logistics costs, and improve global connectivity, key for Bangladesh’s economic competitiveness. Supporters like BGMEA or others note that many ports in nearby countries use foreign operators, while Bangladesh still lags in efficiency. Amidst the arguments for and against adding foreign companies to the Laldia terminal, the interim government is viewing the investment agreement with Denmark's APM Terminals as a success, a "major contribution to the nation."

Briefly, if successful, the deal could serve as a blueprint for future PPP projects, drawing more global players into Bangladesh's infrastructure push.
 

Md. Al-Amin writes on diplomacy, 
foreign policy, border conflicts and 
security issues.