Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday called upon the country’s marine engineers to work with the motto of patriotism and efficiency to survive the present competitive world.
The Prime Minister gave the directives while addressing the graduation parade of the 51st Batch of Chittagong Marine Academy through a videoconference from her official residence Ganobhaban. A total of 132 Nautical Cadets and 128 Marine Engineering Cadets were graduated in the course. Sheikh Hasina asked the marine engineers to uphold the National flag as well as the culture and tradition of the country wherever they go as representatives of Bangladesh. She also praised BangladeshMarineAcademy as an internationally reputed Institute for creating efficient marine cadet and officers for conducting international maritime ships. Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman developed the academy as a full-fledged and modern institute through undertaking a project titled ‘Development of Marine Academy’ in 1973, she added.
Considering the potentials of the academy, Sheikh Hasina said she had already laid the foundation stone of a university named ‘Bangabandhu SheikhMujibMaritimeUniversity’ in 2011 and the University began its academic activities in 2013. She said the permanent campus of the Bangabandhu SheikhMujibMaritimeUniversity would soon be established at Bakolia of Chittagong while four more academies in Pabna, Rangpur, Sylhet and Barisal are also being set up with the cooperation of the ChittagongMarineAcademy. Besides, the government would also establish such marine academies in other divisional headquarters of the country in phases.
Referring to its academic courses, the Prime Minister noted that the three-year term degree pass course has been upgraded to four year term honours course from 2016 and as a result, it would be easier to attain higher knowledge and training on marine subjects. BangladeshMarineAcademy is an affiliated Institute of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Maritime University, and at the same time, it is one of the 14 branches of the WorldMaritimeUniversity. Besides, it achieved the recognition of the Training Standard from the European Union and Singapore Port Authority Training Department in 2011 and 2015 respectively. The Prime Minister also mentioned Bangladesh’s victory in maritime boundary cases against India and Myanmar at the international court. She also pointed to Bangladesh’s merchant marine captain Moin Ahmed who was elected the Director General of the International Maritime Organisation in2015. Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan also spoke on the occasion while Information Minister Hasanul Haque Inu, Prime Minister’s Advisors HT Imam and Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury were present at Ganobhaban.
Earlier, the graduated marine cadets gave guard of honour to the Prime Minister while she took salute at the parade through the video conference.
