'Career Development Fund' launched for Bangladeshi marine cadets

In a landmark initiative for the country's maritime sector, the Career Development Fund has been officially launched for Bangladeshi marine cadets, with funding from the ITF Seafarers' Trust.

This pioneering move aims to provide interest-free loans to cadets completing their training, enabling them to participate in the crucial Class-3 Certificate of Competency (CoC) examinations.

Under this project, the ITF Seafarers' Trust has provided £50,000 (approximately Tk80 lakh) to support marine cadets in their career development.

The initiative is being implemented by the Bangladesh Merchant Marine Officers' Association (BMMOA)—the only registered trade union (established in 1986) representing over 12,000 Bangladeshi marine officers and engineers working both onboard international and local vessels, as well as ashore.

The association is affiliated with the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) and recognised by the International Maritime Employers' Council (IMEC) under the International Bargaining Forum (IBF).

BMMOA held a programme at its office in Chattogram's Agrabad area today (17 April) evening to mark the launch of the fund.

Chaired by BMMOA President Captain Anam Chowdhury and moderated by General Secretary Captain Shakawat Hossain, the event featured Sajid Hussain, an ambassador of the International Maritime Organization and former commandant of Bangladesh Marine Academy, as the guest of honour.

Captain Shafiqul Islam Bhuiyan, chairman of Group Notika, was present among others.  Several members of the association were also present.

Speaking at the event, Captain Anam Chowdhury said, "Bangladeshi marine professionals play a critical role in global trade and are officially recognised as frontline key workers by the United Nations and the IMO. Collectively, they contribute an estimated $670 million USD (approximately Tk8,040 crore) annually to the national treasury through legal remittance channels."

"We received several requests highlighting that many cadets face financial crises due to low and irregular salaries, and long periods ashore while preparing for their Class-3 CoC. The total expenses—including course fees, short courses, COP & exam fees, accommodation, food, and other basic costs—often exceed what they can afford. Most of them do not receive sufficient support from family, relatives, or friends," he added.

"So, we came up with a unique concept and motto of 'Pay It Forward', and developed the proposal for the Career Development Fund. The concept is to grant an interest-free, returnable loan to financially needy cadets for their Class-3 CoC exam process. When they return to work, they will repay the loan, allowing the fund to support future cadets in need," he further said.

"The motto is 'Pay It Forward – Connecting BMMOA with Members in Need'. Let kindness ripple out, because small acts of kindness—when multiplied by hundreds or thousands—can transform our community," he also said.

BMMOA General Secretary Captain Shakhawat Hossain stated, "We shared the concept with the ITF Seafarers' Trust, and after several meetings and communications, the Trust approved the proposal and granted funding. This is the first-ever case of such a grant approval by the ITF Seafarers' Trust. They appreciated our concept and the project."

He added that, "Following the successful rollout of this initiative, we plan to expand support to Class-1 and Class-2 exams, as well as other career development courses for marine officers in the future."

Applauding the initiative, Guest of Honour Captain Sajidur Rahman said, "This visionary step sets a strong precedent for advancing the welfare of Bangladeshi seafarers and strengthening the nation's role in the global maritime industry."

It is worth mentioning that 500–600 marine cadets graduate from nine marine academies in the country each year. These graduates must later appear for internationally recognized professional exams to advance their careers—often requiring financial support. This fund is expected to play a vital role in easing their financial burden during this critical phase.