BIDA Chairman Unveils $800 Million Investment for Laldia Container Terminal

Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun, Executive Chairman of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), announced an $800 million investment focused on the existing container terminal at Laldia Char, located on the southeastern bank of the Karnaphuli River in Chattogram. Highlighting the significance of this investment—surpassing the country’s annual FDI average of $700 million—he emphasized its potential to generate substantial employment and boost economic development. Speaking to the media during his visit to the Patenga area, he reiterated BIDA’s commitment to closely monitoring the project's progress. Harun, who also serves as Executive Chairman of the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA), was accompanied by key officials including Press Secretary to the Chief Advisor Shafiqul Alam, Deputy Press Secretary Mohammad Abul Kalam Azad Majumder, and Chairman of Chattogram Port Authority Rear Admiral SM Moniruzzaman.

After inspecting the New Mooring Container Terminal at Chittagong Port, Harun described Chattogram as Bangladesh’s future commercial capital, emphasizing its pivotal role in national development. He stressed that creating employment, particularly for locals, remains a central goal, and upgrading terminal facilities to global standards is vital for sustained business growth. His day-long visit to Chattogram aimed at assessing economic and investment prospects in port and maritime infrastructure, ahead of Chief Advisor Prof. Muhammad Yunus’s scheduled visit to the region on May 14.

Harun clarified that the Laldia project would not rely on domestic investment and represents a historic opportunity to transform Bangladesh into a global manufacturing hub. Plans include developing Laldia into a green port through a public-private partnership (PPP) and government-to-government agreement under the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model. He called for long-term planning and collaboration with international port management experts to maximize operational efficiency, noting that despite multiple expansions, Bangladesh's ports lag behind regional competitors like Vietnam. Additionally, a committee has been formed to establish a free trade zone, with Anwara under consideration as a potential site.

APM Terminals, a subsidiary of AP Moller Maersk, began operations at Laldia Terminal in 2024. While initial investment projections ranged between $300 and $400 million, the commitment has now risen to $800 million, as confirmed by BEZA Chairman Harun.