BMMOA affiliation with ITF – 21 APR 2015

Dear ExCom Members and General Body Members of BMMOA,

Assalaamu Alaikum,

You are aware that ITF head office accepted our application for affiliation and issued a letter to BMMOA on 27 MAR 2015. On the same day ITF had sent a letter to all the ITF affiliated associations/unions in Bangladesh stating “The application (from BMMOA) has been made on behalf of 4,450 members (seafarers). In accordance with the ITF Constitution, you are invited to comment on the application and, in particular, to say whether or not you think it should be accepted”. The letter is attached to this mail and the full content is available for reading.

The deadline for replying to this letter to ITF HO is 24 APR 2015.

On 20 APR 2015, a meeting of the Coordination Committee of ITF Affiliates in Bangladesh (CCITFAB) was held at the office of Bangladesh Sarak Paribahan Sromik Federation, Dhaka, to decide and comment on the application of BMMOA for affiliation with ITF, as stated above. The President & General Secretary of BMMOA were invited to be observers in the meeting. The General Secretary being at Chittagong, MarEngr. Mostafizur Rahman, one of the Vice Presidents staying at Dhaka, accompanied me to this meeting of CCITFAB.

The ITF affiliated bodies in Bangladesh are:
1. Bangladesh Noujan Sramik Federation (Inland Shipping on board staff)
2. Bangladesh Seamen Association (Ratings)
3. BIWTC Workers’ Union
4. Society for Aircraft Engineer Association of Bangladesh
5. Bangladesh Biman Flying Service Association of Cabin Crew
6. Biman Officers’ Association
7. Bangladesh Biman Employees Union
8. Bangladesh Biman Sramik League
9. Bangladesh Sarak Paribahan Sromik Federation
10. Bangladesh Truck Chalok Sramik Federation
11. Bangladesh Railway Sramik League
12. Bangladesh Railway Employees League
13. Jatio Rickshaw Van Sramik League

The meeting was attended by the President and/or General Secretary of 10 of the above mentioned organisations. The Chairman and Member Secretary of CCITFAB are selected by rotation for one year from the 13 organisations. This meeting was chaired by the President of Bangladesh Biman Employees Union and Member Secretary was the GS of Bangladesh Noujan Sramik Federation.

Mr. Shajahan Khan, MP, Minister of Shipping, was present in the meeting as the President of Bangladesh Sarak Paribahan Sromik Federation.

The matter of affiliation of BMMOA to ITF was discussed in the meeting with a short presentation by me as the President of BMMOA. It appeared that the opinion of Bangladesh Seamen Association was vital as being directly connected with seafaring. Mr. Shafiqur Rahman. President of Bangladesh Seamen Association cooperated to the fullest and stated the positive effects of affiliation of the merchant marine officers in the ITF fraternity in Bangladesh. Mr. Chowdhury Ashiqul Alam, GS of Bangladesh Noujan Sramik Federation appeared to be very influential personality in this fraternity and also with the ITF HO. He also supported BMMOA’s affiliation wholeheartedly.   Finally, there was unanimous decision in favour of BMMOA to be affiliated with ITF.

A letter on the decision of the CCITFAB was prepared with particular assistance from Mr. Shafiqur Rahman and with our efforts the letter was prepared and signed after the meeting and instantly Mr. Chowdhury Ashiqul Alam, sent the scanned copy to ITF HO by email in our presence so that it reaches them and action to be taken before or during the ITF Executive Board meeting in London on 24 APR 2015.

This email is addressed to BD Mariners for the information of all members of BMMOA. Advisory Panel of BMMOA, representatives of the Maritime Forums and MarEngr. Baten are kept on Bcc of this mail for clarity of addressee part of the mail.

Kind regards
Zillur Rahman Bhuiyan
President, BMMOA

ITF Prospect Bmmoa Application Consultation