Juldia Marine Academy Alumni Association (JMAAA)

Annual meeting and dinner; Chittagong, March 17, 2106

 

Message from the President

Dear all,

 

It is my duty to inform you all that at JMAAA dinner on 17th. March, 2016, a lively discussion took place on various issues relating to Mariners. I am thankful to all who were present at the dinner.

 

Meantime on Nigerian issue, Mehural Karim has raised the core of issues, which has caused doubts to many minds of our community. Answering the doubts always clears the unnecessary fogs created with lack of information.

The question was raised here at the bd-marine and at the JMAAA dinner that

what should we do?

 

Well, we must proceed cautiously.

 

We must proceed legally, as mentioned by Mehural Karim and

others at the dinner.

[He has raised some very pertinent questions, answer of

them are very urgent and need to be answered.]

The Parents of the victims should be brought into light

and they should ask for help to the GOB and then we shall

push it so that things can take place fast and they are

released swiftly.

The money can be used properly and will used in a worthy cause.

 

As I have mentioned at the dinner that GOB has decided to open Embassy at Nigeria and a High Commission has already been designated. If this takes place within a month or two, it will be of great help for our cause.

 

Meanwhile, I must thank Mehural Karim for his effort and especially Mr. Shahjahan, Chairman Brave Royal shipping Lines for providing jobs to BMA Cadets and other junior officers on a continuous basis.

One must not shy away to thank the people who actually support us at our time of need.

 

Ashraf Noor (5E)

 

 

 

Minutes of the meeting and dinner

 

It was a great privilege to be a part of great JMAAA reunion where we were able to meet up with many ex cadets from the Chittagong chapter.

 

The meeting was presided by Mr. Ashraf Noor (5E) and moderated by Mr. Shakhawat Hossain (33 E).

 

While maintaining concern for the unemployment situation of the passed out cadets, the meeting was live with discussions about the situation of the 4 mariners held at the Nigerian jail.

A slide show itemized the various points of discussion. The highlights of the discussion are indicated hereunder:

 

ISSUE NO 1

FOUR BANGLADESHI MARINERS

UNDER NIGERIAN CUSTODY

Asharf Noor stated, “JMAAA reunion Dhaka’ was the first official reunion where representative of 44^th batch got chance to express the sufferings of their beloved batch mate “. He also informed that he had meetings with the 44 batch boys and has advised them that they should get the victim’s parents involved  so that GOB can take necessary steps to get all 4 Bangladeshis out of Jail.

Ghulam Suhrawardi – 6/N –

Capt Shafiq Bhuiyan -8/N

Capt Anam – 12/N

Meherul Karim – 16/E

Capt Malek – 16/N

Shakhawat – 16/E

Fasiur Rahman – 19/N – Hu

Capt Shamim – 24/N (BMA)

Arifuzzaman – 27/E (GS-BMMOA)

Above mentioned ex cadets delivered their valuable comments regarding the ordeal of the Bangladeshi mariners in Nigerian Jail.

Each speaker exhibited their concerns and made their points and recommendations.  Meherul (16E) led the discussions.

Statements by Meherul (16E)

1. Status of fund collection

 

• The General Secretary of BMNOA updated at the Q&A session that he did not receive the money as yet. The GS further said that as far as he knew the cheque was still in Dhaka and as such BMNOA could not deposit the cheque into its account. This means, money from the agent has not yet been paid /received by BMNOA in reality.
• We all got fully stunned and confused on what was really happening????

 

2. Background of the 4 seafarers

 

• Out of 4, one is from BMA, 2 from FA and 1 rating. None of us know if any mariners from FA have come out with any help so far.
• Out of 4, 2 gone through shipping office CTG, 1 through the manning agent without the knowledge of the shipping office. How the fourth person was employed no one knows about it. Not even the manning agent was aware of the situation. So, automatically out of 4 – only 2 can be considered for our help, if at all.
• Until now, there is no official complaint from the family members of the unfortunate sea farers to the Bangladeshi Administration. This is another grey area – why the family members are so reluctant to do so. Without any complain, Government cannot initiate any assistance from their own.
• If the family members themselves not worried or willing to take any action, why should we poke our nose into this?

 

3.0 Local lawyer issue

 

• The family members did agree on very first instance to provide the POA to Capt. MAK but by overnight, they changed their mind. Nobody knows why?
• Capt. MAK did pull himself out of this case with deep frustration. I feel that we all should be made aware of the fact behind the reason Capt. MAK’s “U” turn.
• I think we should bring back Capt. MAK into the case.

 

4.0 Manning AGENT

 

• What was the role of the manning agent? Did anyone try to find out?
• How the amount ’50 lacs’ was decided? Why not all 400,000.00 USD?
• Why the whole responsibility suddenly was taken onto our shoulder instead of the manning agent?
• Why / how the issue was kept undisclosed for past one year?
• Even why the family members did not come out for help?
• What discussions influenced us to generate such a big fund within a month only after the news surfaced.
• Our so many unemployed cadets / officers are passing terrible time at present and we could not come out with any planned financial help for these boys until now. None of us ever gave a thought to this as should be whereas we all suddenly became so active / involved to initiate the fund raising of USD 400,000.00 within just one month for an issue which was easily kept covered for one year!!!

 

We all should now start focusing on our own action/s so that the community is benefitted as a whole. We must say enough is enough at one stage.

 

ISSUE NO 2

  ISSUING OF CDC TO THE FISHERIES ACADEMY CADETS

Capt Shamim (24N – BMA) emphasized regulations regarding CDC. Also explained the procedure to get valid CDC. Informed us the procedure which was followed by the fisheries cadets at past this will remain unchanged for them. If so they can get valid CDC. Very much important point to be noted that Principal of Fisheries Academy is not interested to issue the CDC to fisheries cadets.

Capt Anam (12N) told there is no skipper in more than 60% of the fishing vessel.

 

ISSUE NO 3

BMA CADETS: PRIVATE CADETS = 2:1  

                                                    Bangladesh flag vessels

Meherul  & Capt Shamim emphasized the gazettes regarding employment aboard Bangladeshi flag vessels. The private academies are supposed to guarantee their cadets jobs after graduation on board foreign flag ships.

 

 

 

                                                                      ISSUE NO 4

BACHELOR OF MARITIME SCIENCE (Hns)

                                           WORKSHOP SCHEDULE ADOPTION SUDDENTLY

Ashraf Noor (5E) stated that he as the president of JMAAA approached the VC of BSMRU and proposed a plan to enroll the BMA cadets for BMS (Hns) degree.

Ashraf Noor (5E) also discussed with DG Shipping about adoption of a workshop plan for DOC-3 passed engineering track. The procedure has not been finalized yet.

 

                                                                ISSUE NO 5

Why two Alumni Associations?

A discussion was initiated at the meeting. Discussions were also held after dinner privately to resolve the issue of uniting the two associations.

 

The minutes have been compiled by Md. Iftekhar Alam and Saiduzzaman Saddam

48^th Batch, Nautical.