Sakhawat optimistic about direct shipping between Bangladesh and Maldives

Shipping, Labour and Employment Adviser Brig Gen (retd) Dr M Sakhawat Hussain today (27 November) expressed hope for direct ship operation between Bangladesh and Maldives.

"Direct ship movement between Bangladesh and Maldives would help expand bilateral import-export", he said as Maldives High Commissioner to Bangladesh Shiuneen Rasheed called on him at his ministry office, an official release said.

The Maldives envoy replied that the initiative of launching direct shipping services between Bangladesh and Maldives would be taken soon.

The direct ship operation between the two countries will also promote the tourism as it can play a pivotal role in enhancing bilateral communications, she said.

The Maldivian traders are also very much positive about shipping communication, she added.

Even the cruise services could be launched as well along with transportation of container, cargoes and travelers between the two countries, the Maldives envoy said. 

The shipping adviser said Bangladesh has long friendly relations with Maldives as both the South Asian countries are geo-politically very much important and rich in maritime sector.

Maldives usually imports textiles, fruits and different food items including vegetables from Bangladesh, he said.

The adviser said more than one lakh Bangladeshi migrants are working in many sectors including construction, tourism, marketing, communication and health in the Maldives with reputation as well. 

Urging the Maldivian envoy to send cadet from her country for imparting training at the Marine Academies in Bangladesh, the adviser said it is providing international standard training on marine affairs. 

"The regular Maldivian cadets can take quality training from the marine academies here", he said.

Welcoming the adviser's proposal, the Maldives high commissioner said, "Maldives government is interested to work jointly on education and training exchange programme with Bangladesh." 

Even the Maldivian traders are long been expressing their interest for taking transshipment in Bangladesh for transportation of goods and it could be discussed at expertise level of both the countries, the envoy said.

The adviser also informed that Bangladesh will contest in the upcoming polls of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) under c-category in 2025 and sought support from the Maldives in this regard.

Senior Shipping Secretary Mohammad Yousuf and Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Bidosh Chandra Barman, among others, were present.