Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday said her government has a plan to establish marine academy in every division asking the Bangladesh Marine Academy to take measures in grooming mariners in such a way as they can operate high-tech sea ships.
“I have a wish to set up marine academy in every division where our children will get training and an ample scope of employment will be created for them at home and abroad,” she said.
The prime minister was addressing the Mujib Borsha Graduation Ceremony of the 56th Batch of Bangladesh Marine Academy in Chattogram, joining virtually from her official Ganabhaban residence in the capital.
She said that her government has already started operation of the four marine academies in Pabna, Barishal, Rangpur and Sylhet in January this year.
The prime minister hailed the Bangladesh Marine Academy for developing over 5000 marine cadets who are now brightening the country’s image abroad with their professionalism and efficiency and added 230 million US dollars to the country’s economy.
She continued: “I hope Bangladesh Marine Academy will take appropriate measures to build marine cadets as efficient enough to operate high-tech marine ships in the days to come.”
The prime minister described marine cadets as “representatives” of Bangladesh urging them to uphold the country’s thousand-year-old civilization and culture on the world stage.
“Remember, you’re not only the fearless mariners, but also the representatives of Bangladesh. Work with patriotism, honesty, self-confidence, and professionalism. Uphold the country’s thousand-year-old civilization and culture when you travel by ships with goods from one country to another one,” she said.
She greeted all concerned as 359 cadets of Bangladesh Marine Academy under the 56 batch became graduates today through an e-learning process confronting all the hurdles arising out of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The premier witnessed an eye-catching parade by a smartly turned out contingent of the fresh marine cadets.
State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, MP, and its Secretary Mohammed Mezbah Uddin Chowdhury, spoke on the occasion.
Senior Cadet Captain Nadim Ahmed received the Hon’ble President Gold Medal’ for the best all-round performance while Chief Cadet Captain Rafid Bin Alam got ‘Bangladesh Shipping Corporation Medal’ for the second best performance among the cadets of the 56th Batch.
Engineer Golam Mostafa, Adjutant of the Bangladesh Marine Academy, administered oath to the fresh marine cadets while commandant of the academy Dr. Sajid Hussain formally declared the graduation of all the cadets.
A video documentary on the activities of the Bangladesh Marine Academy was screened on the occasion.
Recalling the contribution of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to rebuild a war ravaged country within only three and a half years, Sheikh Hasina said Bangabandhu established Bangladesh Marine Academy, Bangladesh Shipping Corporation and Marine Fisheries Academy.
She said the Father of the Nation started initiative of building big ships at Khulna Shipyard, collected 19 sea-going ships and also took measures to collect nine more ships.
The prime minister said Bangabandhu began a survey to explore oil and gas in the Bay of Bengal and purchased all the gas fields and started work in freeing Chattogram and Mongla ports from land mines with the help of Russia. Two Russians were killed while removing mines, she mentioned.
She said that Bangabandhu had enacted Bangladesh Petroleum Act, 1974 and the Territorial Water and Maritime Zones Act, 1974 to establish rights of huge marine resources.
The prime minister said her government has been able to establish rights in huge maritime areas after winning cases filed with the international court against neighbouring India and Myanmar following the footprint of the Father of the Nation.
Sheikh Hasina, also the elder daughter of the Father of the Nation, said Bangabandhu had enacted the Territorial Water and Maritime Zones Act in 1974, well before the United Nations formulated the law in 1982.
But, no governments, assumed office after assassination of Bangabandhu and most of his family members, took any step to protect the rights of the maritime areas, she said.
With achieving the huge maritime areas, Bangladesh has owned abundant marine resources and its proper utilisation can play a great role in the country’s economy, she opined.
The prime minister said her government had taken a massive programme for overall development of the country coming to power in 1996 after 21 years.
As part of the country’s development, she said her government had first given approval to the new governing body of Bangladesh Marine Academy and made its curriculum time-worthy for advancement of shipping sector.
Assuming power for the second time in 2009, she said they have taken two projects on Enhancing Capacity of Marine Academy and Modernising of Training Facility and made every course up-to-date in accordance with the STCW-2010.
Referring to different initiatives of the present government to expand the scope of education, Sheikh Hasina said they have established the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Maritime University in 2013 for higher education in shipping and upgraded 3-year pass course to 4-year honors course along with introduction of masters for maritime science degree.
