Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Wednesday underscored the need for Bangladesh Shipping Corporation (BSC) to sustain its profitability and strengthen its position as a national maritime institution.
“BSC has recently emerged as a profitable organization and this momentum must be maintained,” he said while receiving a cheque of Tk 203.47 crore from the corporation at a function held at State Guest House Jamuna.
Shipping Adviser Brigadier General (retd) Dr M Sakhawat Hussain and BSC Managing Director Commodore Mahmudul Malek handed over the cheque on behalf of the corporation.
According to Chief Adviser’s Press Wing, the amount was paid to the government as instalments under the Subsidiary Loan Agreement (SLA) for repayment of loans taken for six ship-purchase projects, along with the government’s share of dividends declared for the 2024–25 fiscal year.
Prof Yunus emphasized that future planning should focus on further strengthening BSC’s income base and expanding its fleet.
He noted that adding new ships would boost motivation among seafarers and create fresh employment opportunities.
He also stressed the importance of retaining marine academy trainers by offering appropriate honorariums to ensure the production of world-class seafarers.
Speaking on the occasion, Commodore Mahmudul Malek said a Loan Agreement was signed on October 14, 2016, between the Government of Bangladesh’s Economic Relations Division and the Government of China’s Exim Bank to procure six ships for BSC on a government-to-government basis.
Under the project, six new vessels—three product oil tankers and three bulk carriers, each with a capacity of around 39,000 deadweight tons—were acquired. The principal loan amount was 1.2 billion Chinese yuan, equivalent to Tk 14,576.80 crore. To facilitate repayment, a further SLA was signed on October 27, 2024, between the Finance Division and BSC.
Under this agreement, BSC will repay a total of Tk 2,425.02 crore to the Finance Division over 13 years. As part of the arrangement, a cheque of Tk 47.53 crore, representing interest accrued during the grace period, was handed over to the Chief Adviser on November 26, 2024.
BSC officials said the project marked the addition of six commercial ships to the corporation’s fleet after a gap of 27 years, during the 2018–19 period. Of these, five vessels; MV Banglar Joyjatra, MV Banglar Arjan, MT Banglar Agrojatra, MT Banglar Agrodut and MT Banglar Agrogati, are currently engaged in international maritime trade, carrying Bangladesh’s national flag.
In its 54-year history, BSC recorded its highest-ever revenue in the last fiscal year, earning nearly Tk 800 crore and posting a record profit of Tk 306.56 crore. The newly added ships have played a key role in this performance.
Following directives from the Chief Adviser, BSC has initiated several ship procurement projects. Under a fully self-financed arrangement, the corporation has acquired two bulk carriers.
The first, Banglar Pragati, was delivered on October 28, 2025, and is already in commercial operation, while the second, Banglar Nobojatra, is scheduled for delivery on January 30.
Additionally, steps are underway to procure two MR product oil tankers with government financing and one Ultramax bulk carrier with BSC’s own funds.
Plans are also in place to acquire four large mother vessels from China on a government-to-government basis, alongside several other fleet expansion initiatives.
SH
