Official Visit of Honorable Prime Minister to Singapore & BD Seafarers’ issues

Posted by A.K.M Jamal Uddin On March 14, 2018 0 Comment

Bangladesh PM makes first official visit to Singapore 11~13 March 2018 ============================================================

On behalf of Bangladeshi Marine Community, Singapore (BMCS), I am writing you informing the action taken by BMCS in connection with Honorable Prime Minister’s visit to Singapore; with regards to Bangladeshi Seafarers’ Visa and other problems.

An official letter addressing to the Honorable Prime Minister was handed over thru Bangladeshi High Commission, Singapore on the 7 March 2018. The letter was handed over to HE Md. Mustafizur Rahman, the High Commissioner of Bangladesh to Singapore in his office by BMCS President and couples of Council Representatives.

In the above mentioned letter, we have requested Honorable Prime Minister to assist in resolving our Seafarers’ visa problem including associated problems ie. NTL (Not To Land), difficulties in Sign-on/off in the Port of Singapore.

During the meeting, HE Md. Mustafizur Rahman assured us that the High Commission would take up visa issue with Honorable Prime Minister and it had been included in the agenda.

The same letter was copied to:

Maj Gen Mia Mohammad Zainal Abedin, Military Secretary to Honorable Prime Minister, who is visiting Singapore with PM.
Mahbub Uz Zaman, Secretary Bilateral (Asia-Pacific), MOFA, Bangladesh.
Commodore Arif, DG Shipping, Bangladesh.
Dr. Sajid Hussain, Commandant, Bangladesh Marine Academy, Bangladesh at al.

On 11 March 2018, Shipping Secretary Md. Abdus Samad called a meeting with Bangladeshi Marine Community, Singapore President Zahirul Islam. The meeting was held in the Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore where Honorable Prime Minster is staying. The meeting was also attended by the Chairman, Chittagong Port Authority.

Few representatives of BMCS alongwith BMCS President have attended the meeting and we have had at length discussions about the visa and other problems facing by Bangladeshi seafarers. The visa problem of Bangladeshi Seafarers will be brought in the attention to Honorable Prime Minister by Shipping Secretary himself, as assured by him.

BMCS is in touch with PM delegation in Singapore and with the Bangladeshi High Commission, Singapore. We hope our endeavors will help to ease up visa problem of Bangladeshi seafarers in Singapore and eventually in India, Dubai and other countries.

BMCS representatives held meeting(s) with Major General Mia Mohammad Zainul Abedin BB, OSP, PSC; Military Secretary to the Prime Minister and with Mr. Md. Shafiul Islam (Mohiuddin), President of FBCCI on 12 March 2018.

Honorable Prime Minister left Singapore on 13 March 2018 afternoon for home, cutting short her four-day official visit by a day following the crash of US Bangla aircraft. We pray for the departed souls and quick recovery of the injured passengers and crew.

Prior to the departure, we were called upon to meet Honorable Prime Minister at the Shangri-La Hotel. BMCS President M. Zahirul Islam (12E) and I had the privilege to meet her. PM informed us that she had discussed about seafarers visa issue with Singapore Prime Minister and Singapore President during formal meetings. We expressed our gratitude and thanked her sincerely.

Trust by conveying our message to the Head(s) of Government(s) and State, we now have a strong base to move forward and resolve the visa and associated issues.

We request Bangladeshi marine community across the globe to suggest and guide us in resolving these issues.

Finally, I would like to thank our seniors, batch-mates and junior brothers for your encouragements and kind words.

Thank You.

Sincerely Yours

On behalf of BMCS Council
Emdad (29)
General Secretary
BANGLADESHI MARINE COMMUNITY,SINGAPORE.
UEN Number: T14SS0170B
Email: secretary.bmcs@yahoo.com
Web: bmcs.sg