Dhaka: Shipping and Labour and Employment Adviser Brigadier General (Retd) Dr. M Sakhawat Hussain today sought support from the member states of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) for Bangladesh in the upcoming election as the country is contesting in the membership post under category C of the IMO council for the 2026-27 term. The adviser sought this support from the diplomats of different states stationed in Dhaka on the affairs of IMO council elections scheduled to be held in December.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Dr. Hussain emphasized that Bangladesh is one of the maritime countries in the world, highlighting its three sea ports, along with an under-construction deep sea port at Matarbari. He further noted that a total of 54 internal river ports are making significant contributions to the country’s shipping sector, with two-thirds of the population depending on the maritime sector in various ways.
Additionally, Dr. Hussain pointed out that ships built in Bangladesh are being exported abroad, and the country plays a significant role in important issues of the international maritime sector. With this background, Bangladesh has announced its candidature for the IMO council membership in the upcoming election to contribute significantly at the global level while advancing its maritime sector.
The adviser also sought support from different IMO member countries for this election. He praised the performance of Bangladeshi sailors, including women sailors, on international ships, acknowledging their skill and potential.
Welcoming the diplomats of various foreign countries, Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain highlighted Bangladesh’s strategic location in the Indo-Pacific region, where about 95 percent of the country’s trade depends on the sea route. He emphasized that the present government is working to make the maritime sector safe, environment-friendly, and inclusive for the future.