40 young men to get jobs worth up to Tk 100,000 before completing their studies

Their studies are not yet completed, and they have not even received their final degree certificates. Yet appointment letters from multinational shipping companies are already being added to their portfolios. For those who dream of taking the helm of a ship on the vast oceans or leading operations in the engine room, that dream is beginning to take shape even before graduation. This remarkable development took place last Friday at the Bangladesh Marine Academy campus.

The academy recently hosted direct interviews by three leading global ship management companies. The cadets did not have to travel abroad or visit company offices for interviews. Nor did they have to run after any recruitment agencies. Instead, senior officials from the foreign companies flew to Chattogram and conducted interviews at the academy’s administrative building. Sixty promising cadets took part in direct interviews and laboratory tests. Of them, 40 cadets are expected to receive appointment letters directly online initially. After completing their courses in December, they will begin working aboard foreign vessels as trainees for one year. Their monthly salaries will range from $500 to $1,200, equivalent to around Tk 60,000 to Tk 150,000. If they perform well, the cadets could begin working as fourth engineers or junior officers on vessels operated by leading global companies at salaries ranging from $2,500 to $4,000, equivalent to around Tk 312,000 to Tk 500,000.

At a time when millions of unemployed people in Bangladesh struggle even to secure ordinary jobs, this is reportedly the first time foreign companies have come to a campus to recruit students before they have graduated. It is remarkable. Experts involved in ship operations say the development sets an example and marks a major milestone in restoring Bangladesh’s reputation in the global maritime sector.

Captain Kazi A B M Shamim, Commandant of the Marine Academy, said the achievement was the result of relentless efforts by the academy and its alumni. “After learning about our continuous communication, academic standards and the capabilities of our cadets, officials from these world-class organisations came to the campus. We have made a good start,” he said.

The three companies offering jobs to Marine Academy cadets are globally renowned. They are Germany-based shipping giant Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement (BSM), China’s largest company Huayang Maritime Center, and Thailand’s Nathalin Shipping Private Limited. Senior officials from all three companies visited the Marine Academy for the first time to conduct interviews.

Sofronis Theodosiou, Marine Director (HR) of the BSM Group, told Agamir Somoy after completing the interviews, “We are impressed by the performance of the cadets. We hope something good will come out of this.”

Germany-based BSM operates around 750 modern vessels worldwide. It has 10 major ship management centres in more than 30 countries, over 35 crew service centres and six dedicated maritime training centres. Around 25,000 seafarers and crew members work for the company.

The Marine Academy’s alumni have played a major role in securing these recruitment opportunities. Captain Rahat Sumon, an alumnus of the academy’s 32nd batch, works as Fleet Personnel Manager at BSM. He said, “Our cadets have a worldwide reputation. Establishing a connection with a major company like BSM was a significant challenge. This time, 10 cadets are set to be recruited. That number will increase next time. How much it increases will depend on the performance of the current cadets.”
Huayang Maritime Center is China’s largest government-owned seafarer supply organisation. It operates a vast network that manages more than 200 seagoing vessels and supplies over 12,000 seafarers and marine officers to more than 150 international shipping lines around the world. This is the first time Marine Academy cadets have received an opportunity to work with the organisation.

Captain Mohammad Kamal Hossain, a member of the academy’s 33rd batch, coordinated the recruitment process on behalf of the company. He said, “The Chinese market is huge and full of potential. To tap into this market, cadets are already being taught Chinese. Company officials were quite satisfied with the cadets during the interviews. We are taking 10 cadets this time. This number will increase.”

Singapore-based Nathalin Shipping is a subsidiary of Nathalin Group, one of Thailand’s largest oil transportation and maritime conglomerates. A leading player in the region’s fuel-oil transportation sector, the group operates more than 50 seagoing vessels, employing over 2,000 seafarers and marine engineers. The company is also recruiting cadets from the Marine Academy this time. However, Captain Emdad, Managing Director of the company’s Singapore office, did not disclose the number of recruits.

Although the Bangladesh Marine Academy ensures internationally standardised education and training for its cadets, visa complications and delays in securing onboard sea training had previously limited their entry into renowned shipping companies. Against this backdrop, the academy’s alumni decided to take an active role in securing employment opportunities for its cadets with globally renowned shipping companies. The benefits of that initiative are now gradually becoming visible.

Captain Anam Chowdhury, President of the Bangladesh Merchant Marine Officers Association, said, “After going through many stages, an opportunity has now emerged for them to enter major international platforms. These recruitments are a major testament to the skills of Bangladeshi mariners and their acceptance internationally. If the cadets build a strong reputation, opportunities for employment at more companies around the world will open up.”

More than 5,000 cadets from this academy, located in Anwara, Chattogram, are currently involved in ship operations around the world, both at sea and onshore.