Bangladesh wants to introduce Bangabandhu marine scholarship through IMO: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said Bangladesh wants to introduce scholarship in marine sector for small islands and African Least Developed Countries (LDC) after the name of Bangabandhu through International Maritime Organization (IMO).

“We want to introduce 10 cadet training scholarship after the name of Bangabandhu through IMO,” she said when its Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez paid a courtesy call on her at her official Ganabhaban residence here this morning.

Briefing newsmen after the meeting, PM’s Speech Writer M Nazrul Islam said that the IMO secretary general gladly received the proposal.

The scholarship awardees will be trained in Bangladesh Marine Academies.

The IMO secretary general stressed the need for taking measures in increasing women mariners.

The Bangladesh premier said her government has first employed women mariners alongside inspiring them to be mariners.

She appreciated IMO for their efforts to free the crews of hijacked Bangladeshi ship MV Abdullah within a month.

Sheikh Hasina has called upon the IMO to take appropriate measures in ensuring safety and security of marine ways.

“Sea ways are very important for our economy,” she said.

She also said the surrounding countries of the Bay of Bengal together are ensuring safety and security of sea ways.

“Take similar initiatives in other places to ensure safety of the sea ways,” she added.

During the meeting, shipbuilding and its recycling alongside the climate change issues were prominently discussed.

Sheikh Hasina said her government has enhanced the safety measures in ship building and its recycling industries.

“We have enhanced safety measures in ship building and recycling industries and it is remarkable,” she said.

The prime minister said Bangladesh is exporting ships to European countries as both the public and private sectors have engaged in the ship building.

The IMO secretary general said all have to follow the criteria set in the Hong Kong Convention.

Mentioning that Bangladesh signed the Hong Kong Convention last June, he said the criteria set in the convention will have to be followed, otherwise, the Europe will not sell their old ships to any country.

The Bangladesh premier has sought help from the IMO to enhance its efforts in ship building and recycling for protecting the environment following the Hong Kong Convention.

About the climate change, she said Bangladesh has to face flood, cyclone and drought due to adverse impact of climate change.

Referring to recent cyclone Remal, Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh suffered huge losses of the properties due to long-lasting of the storm and tidal surge.

The prime minister said Bangladesh is trying to offset the climate change impact by forming climate trust fund with its own finances.

PM’s Ambassador-at-Large M Ziauddin and Principal Secretary M Tofazzel Hossain Miah, among others, were present. (BSS)