Bangladeshi seafarers Job prospects got bleak due to rampant use of false documents to get employment in ships. In a meeting with the Bangladesh Shipping Ministry, some members asked to take action against false document holders.
Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong, Singapore, India and other countries do not issue visas to Bangladeshi job seekers who aspire to work for different flag carriers.
Reasons Cited:
- 7 Bangladeshis got jobs in a Singaporean ship last year and when it berthed at a US port they left the ship and never to return
- 17 Bangladeshis disappeared from a Saudi ship last year
- 52 Bangladeshis with false documents was found by Hong Kong
- 50 false documents provided by Bangladeshis in Iran
Officials said it is very easy to get competency certificate or seaman’s identity card for non-technical people like ship cleaner or cook in Bangladesh.
Bangladesh has only four ships in the public sector, and 27 in the private sector and these are not enough to provide training to them, noted the official. “Without training nobody can afford to get a job in any foreign ship.”
Source: Dhaka Tribune
