FE Report

The Bangladesh Coast Guard (BCG) will receive a grant of Tk 2.11 billion from Japan for procuring modern vessels and equipment aiming to enhance its capacity.

With the fund, the BCG will buy 24 boats and marine pollution controlling equipment under a project titled 'Improvement of rescue capacities in the coastal and inland waters'.

To this effect, Bangladesh and Japan signed two agreements at a ceremony at the Economic Relations Division (ERD) at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in the city on Monday.

ERD secretary Kazi Shofiqul Azam signed both the agreements on behalf of the government while Japanese Ambassador Hiroyasu Izumi signed the Exchange of Notes agreement and chief representative of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in Dhaka Hirata Hitoshi signed the grant agreement.

BCG Deputy Director General Commodore Bashir Uddin Ahmed, Director Captain M Mamunur Rashid, Director Captain Md Nurul Islam Sharif and the project director Commander ATM Rejaul Hasan attended the ceremony.

As per the agreement, the law enforcing agency will buy four units of 20-metre boats, 20 units of 10-metre boats and four sets of portable marine oil pollution control equipment within next three fiscal years beginning from 2018-19.

Speaking on the occasion, JICA official Hirata Hitoshi said Bangladesh is disaster-prone area. The coastal regions, in particular, face various natural disasters.

"Often the country incurs economic losses due to natural disasters," he said, adding that adequate preparation can help minimise the extent of the losses.

Besides, the number of marine accidents, ship wreckage, and oil spillage are on the rise in recent years, he said.

"The BCG needs to increase its capacity to tackle recurring adverse situations in the coastal regions," said the JICA official.

Ambassador Hiroyasu Izumi said Bangladesh needs to improve its marine and inland water security to sustain its economic progress.

Kazi Shofiqul Azam said the next six years are very crucial for Bangladesh, as it is expected to be graduated as a developing nation in 2024.

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