The government has extended the service of Chartered Marine Engineer Dr Sajid Hussain, commandant of the Bangladesh Marine Academy, for two more years.

The extension entered into force this month and will be valid till September 2023, according to a Ministry of Public Administration order issued Monday.

Sajid Hussain has been serving as commandant since 2009. Before that, he had served the Academy during 1993-2009 as senior engineer instructor, chief engineer and deputy commandant and the Bangladesh Shipping Corporation during 1980-1993 as cadet engineer and chief engineer in ocean-going ships.

He is also an International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Maritime Ambassador, a governor at the World Maritime University's board of governors, and maritime expert of IMO and GlobalMET.

Commandant Sajid obtained CoC Class ONE Marine Engineer from the UK, MSc in maritime safety administration (marine engineering) from the World Maritime University and a DSc in maritime education.

He has authored 23 books, 30 research papers and over 250 features and achieved "Outstanding Contribution to Marine Education Award 2018" from IMarEST London in 2019.

Commandant Sajid has enriched the Academy with international statuses like partnerships with the World Maritime University (2019); recognition of the UK Merchant Navy Training Board (2019), IMarEST London, NI London (2019), MPA Singapore (2015), and EU EMSA (2011); links with China's Dalian Maritime University, Vietnam Maritime University and Singapore Maritime Academy (2011) and Australian Maritime College (2010).