SANGSAD BHABAN, June 23, 2019 (BSS) – State Minister for Shipping Khalid
Mahmud Chowdhury today told the Jatiya Sangsad (JS) that six new ships were
added to the fleet of Bangladesh Shipping Corporation (BSC) at cost of Taka
1,637 crore and 15.15 lakh in current fiscal 2018-19.
“Of the total cost, Taka 1,527.66 crore was come from project assistance
while Taka 109 crore and 49.15 lakh was come from government treasury,” he
informed the House, replying to a starred question from treasury bench
lawmaker Anwer Hossain Khan from Laxmipur-1 constituency.
After the country’s liberation, Khalid said, architect of the independent
Bangladesh and Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
established the Bangladesh Shipping Corporation on February 5 in 1972 as an
international commercial institution to boost the country’s economy.
The corporation procured the first ocean-going vessel named ‘MV Banglar
Doot’ within next four months and 14 ocean-going vessels within 29 months,
the state minister added.
But, later, the shipping corporation was neglected for long time, he said,
adding that as per the directives of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the six
new ships have been added to the fleet of BSC in current fiscal and plans
have taken to procure more ships.