Dhaka: Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus emphasized the importance of the Bangladesh Shipping Corporation (BSC) maintaining its profitable status while expanding its fleet to strengthen its financial capacity. Speaking at a cheque handover ceremony at the State Guest House Jamuna, Prof Yunus highlighted the need for BSC to remain strong and profitable by focusing on income generation and fleet expansion.
According to United News of Bangladesh, Prof Yunus stated that adding more ships to the BSC fleet would boost morale among sailors and create new employment opportunities. He also emphasized the importance of retaining instructors at marine academies with appropriate honorariums to ensure the production of world-class seafarers. Plans are underway to acquire several ships, including four new large vessels from China on a government-to-government basis.
The BSC reported its highest-ever profit of Tk 306.56 crore in the last fiscal year, with revenue reaching around Tk 800 crore. The press wing noted that five ships added to the fleet under a recent project have significantly contributed to BSC’s ongoing progress. Following the Chief Adviser’s directives, BSC has initiated steps to acquire additional vessels.
The first ship, Banglar Pragati, from BSC’s self-financed two bulk carrier project, was delivered and deployed in trade on October 28, 2025. The second ship, Banglar Navajatra, is expected to be delivered on January 30, 2026. Additionally, the acquisition of two MR product oil tankers with government funding and one Ultramax bulk carrier with private funding is in progress.
At the ceremony, Prof Yunus received a cheque amounting to Tk 203.47 crore, representing dividends for the fiscal year 2024-2025 and installments payable under the Subsidiary Loan Agreement for loans taken for six ship-purchase projects implemented by BSC under the Ministry of Shipping. Shipping Adviser M Sakhawat Hossain and BSC Managing Director Commodore Mahmudul Malek presented the cheque.
Commodore Mahmudul Malek revealed that a Loan Agreement was signed on October 14, 2016, between the Government of Bangladesh and the Government of China for a project titled ‘Purchase of Six New Ships’. The project involved acquiring three product oil tankers of approximately 39,000 DWT each and three bulk carriers on a government-to-government basis for BSC. The principal loan amount was 1,199,999,070 yuan, equivalent to Tk 1,457.68 crore.
A Subsidiary Loan Agreement was later signed between the Finance Division and BSC on October 27, 2024, to facilitate loan repayment. Under this agreement, BSC will repay a total of Tk 2,425.02 crore to the Government of Bangladesh over 13 years. The total interest accrued during the grace period amounted to Tk 475.25 crore, for which a cheque was handed over to the Chief Adviser on November 26, 2024.
After a 27-year gap without new ship procurement, six commercial vessels were added to the BSC fleet during 2018-19. Five of these vessels-M.V. Banglar Joyjatra, M.V. Banglar Arjan, M.T. Banglar Agrajatra, M.T. Banglar Agradut, and M.T. Banglar Agragati-are engaged in international commercial cargo operations, proudly flying the national flag of Bangladesh.