Staff Correspondent

Shipping, Road Transport and Bridges, and Railways Minister Sheikh Rabiul Alam has directed relevant ministries and agencies to take urgent measures to resolve visa, transit, and crew change complications faced by Bangladeshi seafarers in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and other nations.

"Expanding employment opportunities for Bangladeshi seafarers in the international shipping sector and ensuring their seamless travel is directly tied to our national interest," Minister Alam said. "To achieve this, diplomatic engagement and inter-ministerial coordination with concerned countries must be strengthened, including forming dedicated committees if necessary."

The minister issued the directives while presiding over the inaugural meeting of the National Maritime Council at the Ministry of Shipping conference room on Tuesday.

State Minister for Shipping and Bridges Division Md. Rajib Ahsan, alongside representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, various government agencies, and maritime industry stakeholders, attended the session.

Discussions centered on the persistent hurdles Bangladeshi seafarers face in acquiring transit visas, crew change visas, shore passes, and entry clearances in the UAE. While Bangladesh remains one of the world's leading suppliers of maritime professionals, recent bottlenecks have hampered international placements and crew relief.

The meeting also reviewed preparations for the 2028 IMO Member State Audit Scheme (IMSAS), progress on resolving observations from the 2017 audit, and the formulation of a unified national preparedness.