Govt has no plan to cancel or renegotiate Laldia Container Terminal deal: Shipping minister
He said Bangladesh and Denmark signed a memorandum of understanding on 30 June 2021 to promote environmentally sustainable infrastructure development
Highlights:
- Minister says APM concession to remain unchanged
- Denmark-backed deal signed under G2G, PPP framework
- APM to invest $550 million in Chattogram terminal
- 33-year concession includes option for 15-year extension
The government has no plan to cancel or renegotiate the concession agreement signed with Denmark-based APM Terminals for the construction and operation of the Laldia Container Terminal at Chattogram Port, Shipping Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam told parliament today (13 July).
Responding to a written question from Lakshmipur-1 MP Md Shahadat Hossain during the question-and-answer session, the minister said the agreement was signed transparently under the government-to-government (G2G) framework between Bangladesh and Denmark, in accordance with the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Act and relevant policies.
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He said Bangladesh and Denmark signed a memorandum of understanding on 30 June 2021 to promote environmentally sustainable infrastructure development. As part of that initiative, APM Terminals, a subsidiary of Denmark's Maersk Group, submitted a proposal on 21 May 2023 to develop a container terminal on the right bank of the Karnaphuli River at Laldia.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs granted policy approval for the project on 29 November 2023.
Later, at the first Bangladesh-Denmark PPP Joint Platform meeting on 3 January 2024, the Danish government confirmed its support for implementing the project through APM Terminals.
Following due diligence conducted by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) as the transaction adviser, the Chattogram Port Authority and APMT BV signed the concession agreement on 17 November 2025.
The shipping minister said the agreement has a 33-year tenure, comprising a three-year construction period and 30 years of operation, with an option to extend the operational period by another 15 years.
He added that APM Terminals will invest approximately $550 million in the project, which will increase Chattogram Port's container-handling capacity, create employment opportunities and facilitate technology transfer.
