Best wishes from commandant: 5th annual meeting August 6 and 7, 2010

Respected JMAAA Reunion Enthusiasts

Assalamu Alaikum

On the eve of your 5^th Reunion at Montreal, on behalf of Bangladesh Marine Academy, may we echo our voices with your enthusiastic effort of maintaining and enhancing professional brotherhood through the grand events like this get-together on 6-8 August 2010: Wish you best of luck!

As alma-mater, the Academy is all ours “marine-motherland” and continuously providing a coveted professional identity that is internationally established, accepted and welcomed. The Academy is immensely proud of her nearly 3,000 graduates that is one of the biggest intellectual/technological assets of the Nation as well. Bangladeshi Mariners’ (3,000 Academy Graduates and 2,000 Mariners through other pathway) are recognized world-wide for their sound professional excellence. Their contribution to national and international arena in terms of leadership, entrepreneurship and professionalism possesses distinction. Our academy is the birthplace of such invaluable contributors! Mentionably, this pool of Bangladeshi Mariners at sea & shore (nationally and internationally) are contributing foreign currency equivalent to over 1,000 crore taka per year to the economy of Bangladesh (unique for such a small community).

Respected brothers, you know that, personally, I have been blessed by the almighty Allah to contribute to the enhancement of our Academy since this January 2010. Hence, I would like to share the information concerning the current status, new introductions and future expansion efforts of the Academy (mentioned below) which I believe will be worth-knowing for all of you; after all, it is all ours!

Good-luck again! Happy JMAAA 5^th Reunion!

Sajid Hussain (15^th Batch)

Commandant

Bangladesh Marine Academy

Current position of

Bangladesh Marine Academy – a WMU Branch

New Introduction/emphasis in 2010

• Regular prayers in daily routine
• Observance of national & religious events/days
• Introduction of spoken English classes
• Introduction of classes on leadership and world-shipping
• Introduction of e-Learning
• Increased number of Visiting Lecturers
• Employment drive (with various world leading companies); “Bangladesh Marine Cadets’ Night (inviting prospective employers)” will be held in Singapore in September; similar programme has been planned for London & Dubai
• Participated in Digital Innovation Fair – March 2010 at Dhaka

Distinctions in 2010

• Successful admission registration through SMS (mobile phones) for 47^th Batch (6,147 examinees)
• New Brochure
• New Website (www.macademy.gov.bd)
• International Research attachment with AMC, Australia
• Participated in STCW Diplomatic Conference 2010 at Manila
• Membership of Academy with GlobalMET, InterManager and MarineBIZ TV
• Journals from IMO, ISF/ICS, IMarEST, NI, ITF, ILO etc. for Cadets’ Library
• Training Generators (125 kVA each) with paralleling facility in the Workshop
• Multimedia Projectors (roof-mounted in all classes)
• Smart Board
• Computer Lab (50 computers)
• Language Lab & Electronic lab (being procured)
• Parade Ground’s expansion & new gallery with roof (distinctive architectural look) is in progress; to be completed by this November.
• Cadets’ Square in front of Cadet Block
• Waiting Room at Patenga Jetty has been fully modernized with a new look
• Ladies/gents toilet in Admin block (particularly for foreign guests)

Expectations in 2010

• Honb’l Prime Minister’s kind presence in 45^th Batch Graduation Parade in this Dec’10
• IMO Secretary General’s kind presence in 45^th Batch Graduation Parade in this Dec’10
• Establishment of a Maritime Museum (courtesy: JMAAA – Juldia Marine Academy Alumnni Association, North America)
• Establishment of a “Seafarers’ Memorial” (a sculpture in honour of those ex-Cadets/mariners drowned at sea).
• Observation of Academy Inauguration Day (3^rd September)
• Making a Promotional Video on Academy (a brief 5-10 mins and a detailed 30 mins one)

Future expansion (2010 – 2013))

• New Cadet Block (4 storied with dining/recreation/leisure facilities) for 400 Cadets
• New Office/Admin building at the atop water tank hill; infront of the tank)
• Enhancing into a Maritime University (initially Bachelor Degree awarding and then MSc and Research  Programmes)
• Establishment of 5 new Marine Academies (feeder ones: initially 100 recruits/year each) in various parts of Bangladesh
• Establishment of an Integrated Simulator Centre (full-mission 360⁰ Deck & Engine)
• Increasing yearly recruitment from currently 200 to 500 from 2014
• Procurement of new Training Boats