Bangladesh fails to retain IMO Council seat, marking major diplomatic setback

Bangladesh has failed to secure re-election to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council for the 2026–27 term, marking the end of its two-year tenure won through a strong mandate in 2023. The country lost in the Category C election held at the IMO headquarters in London on 28 November.

In the previous election, Bangladesh had secured 128 votes from 166 member states. This time, the country was unable to gather sufficient support to remain among the 40 council members. Denmark and Kenya were also unable to retain their seats. The IMO has not disclosed Bangladesh's vote count for the latest election, but officials confirmed the loss was conclusive.

Captain Md Anam Chowdhury, president of the Bangladesh Merchant Marine Officers Association, confirmed the outcome to The Business Standard. 

"Bangladesh did not secure a seat in the IMO Council election for the 2026–2027 biennium," he said.

The government had mounted an extensive lobbying effort ahead of the vote. Shipping Adviser Brig Gen (retd) M Sakhawat Hossain led the delegation, accompanied by former Directorate General of Shipping chief Rear Admiral Maksood - brought back specifically to support the campaign - as well as the current DG Commodore Shafiul Bari, Joint Secretary Ali Ahsan, Deputy Secretary Zahidur Rahman, and Engineer Ship Surveyor and Examiner Abul Bashar.

Despite the push, Bangladesh fell short.

At the 34th IMO Assembly earlier in the week, the shipping adviser made a broad appeal to 175 member states, urging them to support Bangladesh's candidacy. He highlighted improvements across the maritime sector, including advances in ship recycling and shipbuilding, capacity-building in maritime education, port modernisation, and the country's ambitions to emerge as a significant maritime nation. 

He also pointed to digital upgrades at Chattogram, Mongla and Payra ports, and cited the under-construction Matarbari deep-sea port as a future regional gateway.

Bangladesh also promoted its annual scholarship programme for seafarers from island and least-developed countries as part of its broader cooperation initiatives.

Delegates held several bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the assembly. Discussions with Pakistan focused on expanding shipping links between Chattogram and Karachi, as well as strengthening cooperation between the national shipping corporations of both countries. Separate talks were held with Belize.

The defeat carries political implications. For the shipping adviser, who had framed Bangladesh's campaign around its growing maritime footprint, the outcome represents a significant setback, signalling the need for adjustments "in the organogram and policy level with competent professionals", according to officials familiar with the effort.

Bangladesh will continue as an IMO member state but will remain outside the council for the next two years, without a seat at the table where key global maritime regulatory decisions are made.