State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury MP has called on the IMO member countries to elect Bangladesh in the ‘C’ category of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council. The State Minister made the call at a reception held for the IMO’s election campaign in London on Tuesday evening (7 December).
Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury said Bangladesh is the only candidate country among the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) this year. If Bangladesh is selected in the ‘C’ category, the interests of LDC, a small island-based developing country, and the landlocked developing country will be expanded. In the IMO, Bangladesh will act as a bridge between developed and developing countries. We will strive to ensure safe and environmentally sustainable shipping and maritime trade through mutual interests and cooperation with member states.
The State Minister said Bangladesh became a member of the IMO in 1976 and served as a member of the IMO Council in the ‘C’ category from 1981 to 1987 and in the ‘B’ category from 2002 to 2017. After a long time, our participation in the IMO Council will not only help Bangladesh to continue its relentless efforts in the IMO’s mission to ensure maritime security, environmental protection, and efficiency in the shipping sector but also play a leading role in the IMO.
Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has allocated enough in the budget for infrastructure development including the building of ports, construction of new jetties and terminals, deep seaports, construction of Padma Bridge, tunnel under Karnaphuli River to meet the demand of international trade. The construction of all these new infrastructures will play an important role in expanding the trade and commerce of the neighboring landlocked countries. In particular, the use of our two major seaports will expand shipping.
The State Minister said Bangladesh has always been active as a maritime nation. We are a large stakeholder in the Bay of Bengal. As the world’s largest delta, Bangladesh is now focusing on the growth of the maritime sector and the growth of a sustainable blue economy. Bangladesh is interested in trade and transportation activities by sea because 95% of the international trade of Bangladesh is done by sea.
He said the education and training of seafarers and other officers have been given top priority. Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Maritime University has been established along with 14 maritime academies and institutes. Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Maritime University is one of the nine maritime universities in the world.
Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury said this year is a special year for Bangladesh. This year we are celebrating the golden jubilee of Bangladesh’s independence and the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Bangabandhu has given us a maritime vision. He passed the Maritime Zones Act in 1974 and established the first marine academy in Bangladesh.
Secretary of the Ministry of Shipping Mohammad Mezbah Uddin Chowdhury, Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the IMO Sayeda Muna Tasneem, Director General of the Department of Shipping Commodore Abu Jafar Md. Jalal Uddin, ambassadors, and high commissioners of IMO member states were present among others.
The ‘C’ category elections will be held on 10 December at the IMO Council.
