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“In advanced countries, most ports are operated by private companies. Why should we lag behind? We want to move forward in the same way,” said Brig Gen (Retd) Hussain.

He added that no decisions would be taken against national interest and that priority would go to firms capable of running the port efficiently. “Our goal is to ensure that businessmen get opportunities while protecting the country’s interests,” he said.

Primarily planned as a bulk-cargo facility, the Laldia Container Terminal was later redesigned as a multipurpose terminal to handle both bulk and containerised cargo.

Built on 14 acres of land, the terminal offers 10,000 container slots and parking for 1,500 trucks. It also includes an eight-acre heavy-lift cargo jetty backup and a 10-acre APM terminal area.

The terminal, approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on March 11, 2013, was built under the public-private partnership model with the Chattogram Port Authority as the implementing agency.

After years of delay due to land acquisition issues, the project gained momentum in fiscal year 2023-24, attracting interest from global investors, including APM Terminals, a subsidiary of Maersk Group.

Senior officials, including Port Chairman Rear Admiral M Moniruzzaman and representatives from several ministries, attended yesterday’s inauguration ceremony.