Red Sea Gateway Terminal (RSGT) Bangladesh has started full-scale operations at Patenga Container Terminal after completing a two-year transformation project involving $170 million to modernise the facility and strengthen Bangladesh’s port infrastructure.
The launch makes RSGT Bangladesh the country’s first international container terminal operator to begin full operations under a 22-year concession agreement with Chittagong Port Authority (CPA), bringing global terminal management expertise, advanced equipment and foreign investment into the maritime sector.
The inauguration ceremony was held in Dhaka on Tuesday, attended by senior officials from Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia, including the Finance Minister of Bangladesh as chief guest and representatives from Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Investment and Ministry of Transport and Logistics Services. Officials from CPA, global shipping lines, exporters’ associations, logistics operators and other industry stakeholders also attended.
RSGT Bangladesh said it invested $170 million to transform Patenga Container Terminal into a modern international facility with advanced handling systems, digital technology and internationally recognised operational standards.
The company started operations at the terminal in 2024 after signing the concession agreement with CPA and handled its first commercial vessel in June that year. Since then, RSGT has expanded infrastructure, increased capacity and introduced global safety and efficiency standards.
In 2025, it invested $3 million to install a container scanner, launch full import and export container operations, expand container yard and warehouse facilities, and introduce digital solutions through its E-portal platform. The terminal also received 14 hybrid rubber-tyred gantry (RTG) cranes through a $25 million investment to improve handling capacity and efficiency.
In 2026, RSGT deployed four state-of-the-art ship-to-shore (STS) cranes after a $30 million The company said the terminal had grown from handling only a few thousand containers in its initial months into a modern gateway capable of supporting Bangladesh’s expanding international trade.
“RSGT Bangladesh is now fully equipped with modern container handling equipment, an internationally trained workforce and advanced technology to deliver efficient and sustainable terminal services,” the company said.
RSGT credited CPA’s cooperation and support for the transformation, describing the project as an example of how public-private partnerships can deliver internationally operated infrastructure.
The upgraded terminal is expected to improve vessel turnaround time, increase cargo handling efficiency and support smoother movement of goods through Bangladesh’s main maritime gateway.
The inauguration also highlighted growing strategic ties between Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia, with RSGT Bangladesh representing a major Saudi investment in the country’s logistics infrastructure.
Executives from major global shipping lines, including Maersk, CMA CGM, MSC and PIL, along with representatives from BGMEA, BKMEA, BIDA, ICD operators and trade associations, attended the event.
RSGT Bangladesh, part of Saudi Arabia-based Red Sea Gateway Terminal Group, operates Patenga Container Terminal under its concession agreement with CPA, combining global port management expertise with local capabilities to support Bangladesh’s trade and economic development.
