Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has called upon the Marine Graduates to brighten the image of the country at home and abroad by performing their duties with honesty, efficiency and conscientiousness.
"Our cadets will enter a new life today," she said. You must fulfill your responsibilities with honesty, efficiency and conscientiousness so that the image of Bangladesh abroad becomes bright. We must remember that we have gained our freedom in exchange for the blood of millions of martyrs. She said this while addressing as the chief guest at the Mujibarsha Graduation Parade of 55th batch cadets at Bangladesh Marine Academy in Chittagong on Thursday. Participated virtually in the main event via video conference from Ganobhaban the Prime Minister witnessed the parade of 55th batch cadets.
She was given a state salute from the ceremony. State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury and Secretary of the concerned ministry Mesbah Uddin Chowdhury spoke.
On behalf of the Prime Minister, the Minister of State for Shipping presented the President Gold Medal and Bangladesh Shipping Corporation Medal among the passing out cadets. Chief Cadet Captain Abir Mohammad Salman Noor won the President's Gold Medal as a successful overall smart cadet. Commandant Marine Engineer of the organization Sazzad Hossain read the oath of the cadets.
The number of passing out cadets from this Marine Academy, including 192 in 55th batches this year, has stood at about 4,500. The Prime Minister renewed the commissioning of two training boats and the post-C cadet distribution (with a capacity of 120) at Marine Academy Lake.
Congratulating the passing out cadets, the Prime Minister said that maritime navigation is a very challenging, very difficult task. But you will join the workplace with the training to do the job. She said the government, which was set up by the Father of the Nation, was in a state of near death. Therefore, the government has implemented a comprehensive program to improve it.
The Prime Minister said, "We have established four more marine academies as per the demand of the sea-world, including 5 government and 6 private ones which are being launched this year. She said her government has set up 'Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Maritime University' in 2013 to introduce higher education in shipping. After taking charge, she has been creating various educational opportunities for boys and girls. The Prime Minister said that under this, your existing three-year Bachelor of Maritime Science pass degree course has been upgraded to a four-year Honors course. In addition, ‘Master of Maritime Science’ degree course has been introduced. Sheikh Hasina said, "If we want to keep pace with the competitive world, we need to take the highest education and be trained in the same way." So, we are creating that opportunity.
Noting that the teaching of this academy has been transformed from traditional to digital in the last 10 years, the Prime Minister said it has gained various international recognitions including the recognition of the United Kingdom Merchant Navy Training Board.
She said that in order to improve the nautical training of the academy, a 'navigation simulator' has been set up in the academy in 2019. In addition, the process of setting up an 'engine control simulator' is underway this year in the interest of better marine engineering training. In other words, we are going to give a full form to this academy so that our cadets can fulfill their responsibilities with international standard training at home and abroad. She said about four and a half thousand trained cadets of the academy are earning about 230 million US dollars every year by providing services on sea-going ships at home and abroad. This trend continues even during the ongoing coronation.
Referring to the steps taken by the government for the development of the Marine Academy, she said that among the various development works worth Tk. 165 crore in the 2019-20 financial year, the construction of a spectacular entrance at the Patenga end of the academy, commissioning of two training boats and renewal of post-C cadet distribution. The Prime Minister said, "We have formulated the second perspective plan for 2021-2041 for a period of 20 years and have adopted the 8th Five Year Plan." Insha Allah, Bangladesh will soon emerge as the developed and prosperous 'Golden Bangladesh' of the dream of the Father of the Nation. And Bangladesh in 2041 will be a developed and prosperous country.