Bangladesh to add marine vessels 'Banglar Pragati', 'Banglar Nabajatra' to fleet

The ships are being supplied by the US-based company Hellenic Dry Bulk Ventures LLC

The state-run Bangladesh Shipping Corporation (BSC) is purchasing two ocean-going vessels with its own funds for the first time.

The ships, built in China, are being supplied by the US-based company Hellenic Dry Bulk Ventures LLC.

After completing all government procurement procedures, BSC signed a supply agreement with the firm on Sunday night.

The ships, named “Banglar Pragati” and “Banglar Nabajatra”, are expected to be added to the shipping fleet within this year.

The purchase cost stands at $76.69 million, equivalent to Tk 9.35 billion.

The BSC expects the two vessels to generate annual revenue of Tk 1.5 billion.

At the contract signing ceremony at the InterContinental hotel, Shipping Advisor M Sakhawat Hossain said that this is the first time the BSC is buying ships with its own funds, calling it a landmark milestone for the country's shipping industry.

"The two new ships will increase BSC's own transportation capacity by around 120,000 DWT, which will be a significant addition to the country's maritime trade. Bangladesh will earn the world’s respect for eco-friendly green shipping," he added.

Currently, the BSC's fleet comprises five ships that transport goods worldwide. In addition to the two new vessels, the process to purchase three more ships is under way, the authorities said.

The BSC noted that high-quality European and Japanese equipment has been used on the bulk carrier ships.

Following the contract signing, the first ship will be handed over to the BSC in October 2025, and the second one in December 2025.