Rangpur: The graduation parade of the 4th batch of cadets at the Bangladesh Marine Academy, located in the Pirganj upazila of Rangpur, took place in a festive atmosphere. Additional Secretary (Administration) of the Ministry of Shipping, Delwara Begum, attended as the chief guest, inspecting the parade, taking the salute, and distributing medals.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, a total of 61 cadet officers from the 4th batch of the Bangladesh Marine Academy received their Pre-C certificates this year, following two years of academic and regimental training. This batch includes 28 cadets from the nautical branch and 33 from the marine engineering branch.
After the vibrant parade, Delwara Begum awarded medals to outstanding cadets. Senior Cadet Captain Zilhazur Rahman Arnab earned the Commandant Gold Medal for excellence in all subjects. Cadet Captain Khandaker Sabitul Islam from the nautical department and Cadet Captain Omar Faruk from the engineering department received the Commandant Silver Medal for the highest marks in all subjects.
In her speech, Delwara Begum emphasized Bangladesh’s significant growth in the global economy, noting that 90 percent of the country’s trade is conducted via the sea. She highlighted the professionalism and courage displayed by trained cadets on national and international sea-going vessels. She urged the cadets to enhance the country’s maritime image by leveraging their acquired knowledge and skills.
Highlighting the academy’s role, she praised the instructors for training cadets based on international maritime guidelines. She discussed government and private initiatives to boost the maritime sector and the blue economy, including the Ministry of Shipping’s plan to install advanced simulators in the country’s four new marine academies.
Commandant Captain Md Shahed Sattar of Rangpur Marine Academy, in his welcome address, underscored the academies’ critical role in developing skilled marine officers and engineers. He encouraged cadets to uphold professionalism and ethics in their future roles.
The event was attended by officials from various government and private organizations, military and civilian officials, cadets’ guardians, and journalists. Since its establishment, the Bangladesh Marine Academy in Rangpur has trained 241 nautical and marine engineering cadets across four batches until 2025, who are now contributing effectively in shipping companies and maritime organizations worldwide.