‘Bangladesh plans to set up three more marine academies’ 

State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury on Monday said the government has a plan to set up three more marine academies in the country aiming to develop skilled manpower for operating commercial ships. 

"As per the instructions given by the Prime Minister, the government will establish three more marine academies for developing skilled sailors," he said. 

The state minister said this while attending a meeting on development, financial and administration affairs of Bangladesh Marine Academies located at Chattogram, Barishal, Rangpur, Sylhet and Pabna held at the ministry's conference room in Dhaka, reports BSS. 

"We will develop skilled sailors as the country has ample scope to produce expert sailors and it will help us to earn huge foreign currency," said the state minister who chaired the meeting. 

The meeting also discussed various things including land requisition, manpower appointment, budget, and simulator purchase of the four new marine academies. 

A total of 359 marine cadets who have passed from 54th batch of the Bangladesh Marine Academy have already been recruited by local and foreign ships, he said, adding "the female cadets have also got appointments in the US, Australia, and Singaporean ships." 

There was only one marine academy in Chattogram, now the country has five marine academies. Affiliated by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Maritime University, the new four other marine academies are Barishal, Rangpur, Sylhet, and Pabna.  

The ministry's high officials including Secretary of the Shipping Ministry M Mostafa Kamal and Commandants of the marine academy, among others, attended the function through the zoom platform.