Bangladesh Mariners form human chain to protest irregularities in CDC provision
Staff Reporter :
Bangladesh Mariners Community has formed a human chain demanding a solution to the visa problem, ensuring jobs for unemployed cadets and ratings, and cancelling the decision to provide CDC to diploma holders.
The human chain was held in front of the National Press Club in the capital on Wednesday.
The human chain, organized by the main organizer Captain Redwan Sikder, was addressed by Jonayed Saki, the chief coordinator of the Gana Sanghati Andolon, Saiful Haque, the top leader of the Ganotonto Mancha, Advocate Subrata Chowdhury, the executive president of the Gano Forum, Sheikh Rafiqul Islam Bablu, the convener of the Bhashani Anusari Parishad, NCP leader Dutee Aranya Chowdhury, Marine Captain Atiq, Engineer Masud Rana, Captain Sajjad, Engineer Jilani, Chief Officer Kaikobad, Engineer Saiful, Shershah, Engineer Bazlul Rahman, among others.
In the event, Jonayed Saki said, due to visa problems, hundreds of marine officers, engineers and ratings are unable to sign off and sign on in Dubai shipping companies. Bangladesh is losing a huge amount of remittances.
Just like the Philippines and Indian sailors have an OK2 board visa system in Europe, America and Arab countries, that opportunity must be created for Bangladeshis as well.
Saiful Haque said, to ensure jobs for unemployed cadets and ratings, cadets and fresh ratings should be doubled on domestic flagged ships. The unreasonable decision of providing CDC to diploma holders should be canceled.
Advocate Subrata Chowdhury said, one maritime counselor can be appointed in each country where there are many shipping companies in the world. Who will work sincerely to ensure employment for Bangladeshi sailors and various issues related to the interests of sailors.
He also said, the government has spent a lot of money to create many institutions to train sailors. Now more vigorous steps must be taken to create a job market.
The speakers at the human chain said that at one stage after its establishment in 1972, the Bangladesh Shipping Corporation had 39 ships and tankers in its fleet, but now there are only five. If the Bangladesh Shipping Corporation (BSC), the only profitable state-owned institution, purchases 100 ships, Bangladesh will no longer have to hire foreign ships to import goods and the country’s reserves will increase by $100 billion within a year. The families of 20,000 sailors will also no longer have to worry about their livelihood.
The speakers requested the government to provide interest-free loans to private entrepreneurs to increase the number of ships flying the Bangladesh flag.
