Laldiachar terminal deal to remain, no plan to cancel or renegotiate: Minister

The government has no plan to cancel or renegotiate the concession agreement with Denmark-based APM Terminals for the construction and operation of the Laldiachar Container Terminal at Chittagong Port, Shipping Minister Sheikh Rabul Alam has said.

The minister made the remarks in response to a written question from Lakshmipur-1 MP Md Shahadat Hossain during the question-answer session of parliament on Monday, July 13.

He said the agreement was finalised through a completely transparent process under the government-to-government framework between Bangladesh and Denmark, following the Public-Private Partnership Act and relevant regulations.

The minister said an MoU was signed between the two governments on June 30, 2021, and APM Terminals submitted a proposal on May 21, 2023. The cabinet committee on economic affairs gave in-principle approval on November 29, 2023. The concession agreement was signed on November 17, 2025.

The agreement is for 33 years, including three years for construction and 30 years for operation, with an option to extend for another 15 years. APM Terminals will invest $550 million in the project.