Bangladesh Coast Guard

Safeguarding territorial sea rights and resources

Bangladesh Coast Guard plays a valiant role in keeping the coast and the seas safe from piracy and pollution

by PINAKI DASGUPTA

Despite a multitude of problems, the Bangladesh Coast Guard has had noteworthy success in ensuring security of the country's seaports, controlling piracy and protecting the environment. It has effectively been carrying out its responsibility in safeguarding the territorial sea rights for 12 nautical miles from the coast and the exclusive economic zone up till 200 nautical miles.

Bangladesh is the world's largest delta. It is inter-crossed with innumerable rivers. Its economic zone consists of 40 thousand square miles. This massive sea territory comprises a 710 kilometre coast and 10 thousand square mile sea area. The Bangladesh Coast Guard was founded in 1994 for the protection of territorial sea rights and resources. It began operations on December 19, 1995 with two old vessels and a few officers and sailors from the Navy. On December 15, 2004, a new organogram was approved for the Coast Guard with a 2,024-strong manpower and 141 vessels.

Of the three bases, 16 stations and 9 outposts approved for the Coast Guard, three bases, eight stations and eight outposts are in operation. Twelve vessels of varying sizes and a harbour patrol boats have been added to the Coast Guard fleet. The Relief Ministry has handed over 50 relief boats to the Coast Guard. HP Atrai, the harbour patrol boat built at the Khulna shipyard, was added to the fleet last September. It is presently engaged in various operational activities of the western zone.

Director Operations of Bangladesh Coast Guard, Captain Akhter Habib ncc, psi, BN, says, "Over the past two and a half years, 6 lac 92 thousand 965 tonnes of smuggled fertiliser was recovered at 13 check points of the coastal area. Only until recently the outer-anchorage was identified by the International Maritime Bureau as a piracy-prone area. However, over the past two years, due to the sound plans and perseverance of the Coast Guard, ropes worth 1 crore 13 lac 66 thousand and 850 taka which had been looted, were recovered and returned to the respective ships. This has been widely appreciated by various quarters abroad. This has helped in elevating the country's main seaport to international standards."

Legal Officer of the Coast Guard Lt. M Amirul Islam BN says, "There was a time when Bangladesh's rivers were replete with silver hilsa. But the paucity of water in the river Padma, chemical effluence dumped into the rivers from various industries and, above all, the catching of small hilsa known as jatka, is now pushing the fish to the verge of extinction. The Coast Guard is playing an admirable role in preventing the catching of jatka. In the last few years the Coast Guard and confiscated 2 crore 6 lac 55 thousand 308 meters of current net worth about 91 crore 54 lac 56 thousand 920 taka.

The Coast Guard in recent times actively took part in the rehabilitation of the victims of cyclone Sidr. It also plays a role in preventing child labour. It recovered 150 children from Dublar Char, Meher Ali and Alorkol area. It also actively prevents pollution and protects the environment of Bangladesh's territorial waters.

Over the past six years the Coast Guard has recovered 22 crore 29 lac 23 thousand 135 taka worth of goods through its anti-smuggling drive in the Chittagong region.

Narcotic substances and contraband items are smuggled in from India, Myanmar, Thailand and Singapore by boats through Teknaf, Cox's Bazar, Kutubdia, Chittagong and areas near Sundarbans in Khulna. Certain organised groups are involved in smuggling in electronic goods from local and foreign vessels at the outer-anchorage of Chittagong and Mongla ports. Then boats smuggling fertiliser through St. Martin's Island, Cox's Bazar, Kutubdia, Chittagong, Sandwip and Hatia to Myanmar, smuggle back cheap Burmese salt and supply this to various factories in the country.

Pirates use hooks and ropes to climb aboard ships at the outer-anchorage of Chittagong and Mongla ports. They scare the crew with knives and hatchets and make off with the goods. Defined as piracy by the International Maritime Bureau, such incidents give the country a bad reputation internationally. Dacoits also loot cargo boats, tankers and fishing trawlers along various inland routes in Sandwip, Hatia, Ramgati, Barisal and Bhola.

The Coast Guard will shift this July from Baridhara DOHS in the city to Agargaon.