Bangladesh News Bangladesh Economy & Development

[Isa Khan]

Shipping Adviser Brigadier General (retd) M Sakhawat Hussain inaugurated Nagarbari port on the bank of the Jamuna River at Bera upazila here today (8 November).

Addressing a function on the occasion he said the newly launched Nagarbari Port will boost country's economy through goods handling, generating employment and increasing revenue.

Sakhawat said the port will be operated by a private organisation, which will also arrange all necessary port management equipment.

He added that four dredgers will be deployed to ensure smooth river navigation and keep the river route operational.

The inaugural ceremony was chaired by BIWTA chairman Arif Ahmed Mustafa. Additional Secretary of the Shipping Ministry Delwora Begum was present among others.

Equipped with a 360-meter long concrete jetty, terminal, warehouses, open sheds, and other modern infrastructure, the new facility promises to make cargo unloading up to 10 times faster, officials said.

Local residents expressed optimism that the port will transform the region's socio-economic landscape, spurring trade and commerce across the northwestern and southern districts.

Md Khairuzzaman, port officer of the Nagarbari-Kazirhat-Noradah river ports, said the Nagarbari River Port will play a vital role in advancing the country's economy and improving connectivity.

Sakhawat inaugurates Nagarbari river port

Sakhawat said the port will be operated by a private organisation, which will also arrange all necessary port management equipment

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A six-lane railway underpass at TT Para, near Kamalapur Railway Station in Dhaka, has opened today (8 November).

Lt Gen Abdul Hafiz, special assistant to the chief adviser (defence and national solidarity development) inaugurated the underpass this morning. Sheikh Moin Uddin, special assistant to the Chief Adviser, was also present.

Project Manager Brigadier General Ahmed Jamiul Islam said it is Dhaka's first railway underpass, built under the Padma Bridge Rail Link Project.

The underpass is 338 metres long and 31 metres wide, with four lanes for motorised vehicles, separate lanes for rickshaws and bicycles, and footpaths for pedestrians.

Officials said the underpass will ease traffic congestion and reduce delays at railway crossings on the road connecting Motijheel with Mugda, Manda, Maniknagar, and Sabujbagh, though its full benefits will be realised after the completion of the Kamalapur metro station.

Six-lane railway underpass in Kamalapur’s TT Para opens to traffic

The underpass has four lanes for motorised vehicles, separate lanes for rickshaws and bicycles, and footpaths for pedestrians

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[Isa Khan]

The Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) has signed a 30-year concession agreement with APM Terminals BV, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Denmark’s AP Møller, Maersk Group, to design, finance, build and operate the new Laldia Container Terminal (LCT) under a public-private partnership (PPP) framework.

The agreement includes potential extensions tied to performance indicators. Under the deal, CPA will retain ownership of the port, while Maersk and a local joint venture partner will manage construction, operations, and terminal management. Officials say this arrangement will significantly reduce the government’s capital expenditure burden.

APM Terminals, one of the world’s leading port operators with over 60 terminals in 33 countries, brings extensive experience from East and South Asia, including China, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, and Malaysia. The Laldia project is expected to introduce world-class technology, global operational standards, and greener port infrastructure, preparing Bangladesh’s logistics sector for the post-LDC era.

Key highlights of the project

• Foreign Direct Investment (FDI): The project is expected to attract around USD 550 million, marking the largest European equity investment in Bangladesh to date. Officials said Maersk’s entry is likely to encourage other international investors in logistics, manufacturing, and related sectors.
• Expanded Capacity: The terminal will add over 800,000 TEUs per year, a 44% increase over current capacity, and is expected to be operational by 2030, helping ease congestion at existing Chattogram terminals.
• Revenue Generation: Higher throughput will boost CPA’s earnings through revenue-sharing per TEU, taxes, and additional marine services.
• Job Creation: Construction and operations are expected to generate 500–700 direct jobs and thousands of indirect jobs in trucking, warehousing, freight forwarding, and SMEs.
• Technology Transfer & Workforce Training: Maersk will deploy advanced terminal-operating systems and train local engineers, technicians, and managers, building a skilled talent pool for Bangladesh’s logistics sector.
• Efficiency & Trade Benefits: Faster vessel turnaround and improved container handling will reduce logistics costs, benefiting exporters in garments, agro-processing, and light engineering sectors.
• Sustainability: Energy-efficient equipment and climate-resilient infrastructure will align with Bangladesh’s Paris Agreement commitments, supporting green and climate-smart investment.
• Hinterland Development: Increased throughput is expected to attract private

investment in inland container depots, industrial parks, and cold chains, boosting economic activity beyond port cities.

PPP Confidence: The successful concession with a global operator demonstrates Bangladesh’s ability to structure and manage complex PPPs, paving the way for further investment in transport, energy, and social infrastructure.

Officials said the LCT terminal will become Bangladesh’s flagship green port, modernizing the country’s maritime logistics, creating jobs, and strengthening trade competitiveness.

https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/396250/maersk-to-develop-bangladesh’s-largest-green-port?fbclid=IwY2xjawOBpXBleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETExbUVEYVZFZFB5RUxjTDFTc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHo9MSzuwMYW5SNduHVGxAlu0fuoJWHOaZyRAUQNXsIje74C3OyCltHOQJp9-_aem_6o1gIkaDWjgZSLkSHu0G_w