Bangladesh merchant marine issues and the Adviser to the Ministry of Shipping

Bangladesh merchant marine issues and the Adviser to the Ministry of Shipping

Yesterday (26 SEP 2024) I had the privilege to attend the celebration of the World Maritime Day 2024 arranged by the Department of Shipping in their newly built 10 storied building at Agargaon, Dhaka.

Brigadier (Retd) M Sakhawat Hossain, Adviser to the Ministry of Shipping and Jute & Textile, was the Chief Guest of the event.

In his speech, the Adviser talked about the ports and navy being in the maritime sector, in the presence of about 10 high ranking naval officers who were head of the ports, BSC, marine academies, coast guard, navy etc. The only mention of merchant marine was regarding the appointment of two maritime councilors in Singapore and Dubai in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The contribution of Bangladeshi mariners in the local and international shipping and a community of high level of foreign exchange earners, was not mentioned. The significant increase of Bangladesh Flag vessels (102) was not in his speech. The awareness about the maritime industry and its vital role in world trade and economic growth and that of Bangladesh with focus on the role of Bangladeshi mariners and seafarers, and the local shipowners’ contribution, was lacking in the speech of the Adviser. The Adviser did not read from the script given to him and spoke from his own ideas and thinking.

It appears that the Adviser to the Ministry of Shipping needs to be well informed that the maritime community of Bangladesh is as important as any other professional community in Bangladesh. An impression should be given to him to understand the role of mariners in nation building and how Bangladeshi mariners in foreign countries play their role in public and private sectors with name and fame. Definitely mariners in Bangladesh with meritocracy to be given opportunity to serve the nation at high level under the renewed conducive environment expected to come up in next few months’ time.

May I suggest that the Adviser to the Ministry of Shipping to be met very shortly by a high level delegate representing mariners/seafarers, mariners alumni, manning agents, Bangladesh flag vessel owners, professional bodies like The Nautical Institute & IMarEST, association of private maritime academies, to impress upon him the importance and significance of maritime community in the nation building of Bangladesh and place this community at the specialized national service level they deserve.

The adviser to the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment should be taken onboard as well in view of his focus he has on the foreign workers. If a worker from UAE can get VIP treatment at the airports then why not for the seafarers?

Let us look forward to a holistic long-term solution to the mariners’/seafarers’ problems and take the opportunity of the forthcoming reformation in Bangladesh.   

Kind regards.

Zillur R Bhuiyan 11N BD

The letter was reproduced from an email the author sent to the Bangladesh Mariners groupmail on 27th September 2024