State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury has said that global shipping is rapidly improving due to digitization. Along with that, the training of the ship's officers and ratings has to be arranged. The present government is working together to achieve the goal of implementing Vision-2041, he added.
He also said that Bangladesh is progressing from a low-middle income country (LDC) to a developing country and from a developing country to a developed country. Bangladesh will become a developed country by 2041. As a partner of this, the government has been able to play an important role under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury made these remarks while addressing the chief guest at the passing out ceremony of the 24th batch of National Maritime Institute (NMI) Chattogram and 13th batch of NMI, Madaripur in Chattogram on Sunday.
Director General of Shipping Department Commodore Md. Nizamul Haque and Director of National Maritime Institute Captain Ataur Rahman also spoke on the occasion. Military-civilian personalities, representatives of domestic and foreign ship owners and agents were also present.
Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury said that government has planned to make Chattogram a center of maritime activities. The opportunity has been created to provide high quality training to the concerned officers and ratings of the shipping sector of Bangladesh. Bangladeshi officers and rating sailors will no longer need to go abroad for such training. As a result, the country's finances will be saved, opportunities will be created to earn foreign exchange and employment will also increase.
Gold medal and silver medal were awarded to two ratings on the occasion. All round rating Md. Atiqur Rahman Tutul received Gold Medal courtesy of Bangladesh Shipping Corporation and Parade Commander Md Ismail Hossain received Silver Medal for Best Ground Drill courtesy of M/s Hoque & Sons Limited. Both are from Chattogram NMI. Out of 297 trainees participated in the training course, 68 were from Madaripur NMI.
Later, shipping minister inspects the March past of passing out ratings. He distributed prizes among the best trainees.
Shipping Minister later inaugurated the institute's newly constructed mosque and the 'Sheikh Russel Simulator Building'.
