Claiming that the country’s vital marine sector is heading a deep crisis, mariners on Wednesday demanded the government cancel its plan to issue CDCs (Continuous Discharge Certificates) to diploma holders, among other measures to safeguard the industry.
The Bangladesh Mariners’ Community organised a human chain in front of the National Press Club in Dhaka, where they voiced their five-point demand aimed at protecting the livelihoods of Bangladeshi seafarers and preserving the sector’s international standing.
They said the marine sector brings in nearly USD 750 million annually in foreign remittance, but is now facing threats due to visa complications, administrative inefficiencies, and unclear policies that are hindering overseas employment for Bangladeshi seafarers.
One of the primary concerns raised was a proposal by the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment to issue CDCs to SSC-level diploma holders for officer cadet positions—a move mariners described as a “clear violation” of both international maritime standards and the country’s own regulations.
According to the speakers, the "Diploma in Marine Technology" course is not recognized under the international STCW Code A-III/1 and is not eligible for officer-level training under the Bangladesh Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1983. They further noted that such diploma programs are not offered by any government-approved maritime institutions.
Speakers warned that implementing this plan could lead to Bangladesh being delisted from the International Maritime Organization (IMO) White List—damaging the sector's credibility and reducing the country’s appeal to global manning agencies.
They stressed that allowing any institution other than the Bangladesh Marine Academy to issue officer-level CDCs after only six months of training would not only compromise the quality of Bangladeshi officers but also create inequality and reduce the prestige of the profession.
The five demands are:
1. Immediate cancellation of the proposed CDC issuance plan and intervention from the Ministry of Shipping.
2. A quota-based recruitment system aligned with actual demand.
3. Resolution of visa-related issues affecting seafarers seeking employment abroad.
4. An end to corruption in recruitment and training processes.
5. Diplomatic efforts to secure the release of Captain Mahbub, who is reportedly imprisoned in Venezuela.
Mariners emphasised that without a comprehensive long-term policy that aligns with international standards, both Bangladesh’s earnings and position in the global marine industry could be at serious risk.
Captain Redwan Sikder of the Bangladesh Mariners’ Community moderated the human chain. Among others, Captain Atik U A Jan from the Bangladesh Merchant Marine Officers’ Association, Acting Chairman of the Bangladesh Merchant Shipping Federation Chief Engineer Masud Rana, Marine Engineer Golam Jilani from the Marine Academy Alumni Association, Chief Engineer Roich Uddin from the Marine Fisheries Academy Ex-Cadet Association, and Marine Engineer Saiful Islam, President of the National Maritime Institute Alumni Association, also addressed the gathering in solidarity.