Wikipedia

Bangladesh Coast Guard

The Bangladesh Coast Guard (Bengali: বাংলাদেশ কোস্ট গার্ড; BCG) is the maritime law enforcement force of Bangladesh. It is a paramilitary force which is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Home Affairs. Its officers and sailors are transferred from the Bangladesh Navy, and most of the medical officers are transferred from the Bangladesh Army. The Bangladesh Coast Guard also performs the duty of maritime border security of Bangladesh. The headquarters is located in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The coast guard has 3,339 personnel[1] and 63 ships.[3] A modernisation plan named Coast Guard Goal 2030 was undertaken to enhance its capabilities.[4]

Bangladesh Coast Guard
বাংলাদেশ কোস্ট গার্ড
Racing stripe
Racing stripe
Bangladesh Coast Guard Flag
Bangladesh Coast Guard Flag
AbbreviationBCG
Agency overview
Formed14 February 1995 (1995-02-14)
Employees20,339[1]
Annual budget৳1026 crore (US$86 million) (2023-2024)
Jurisdictional structure
National agencyBangladesh
Operations jurisdictionBangladesh
Governing bodyGovernment of Bangladesh
Constituting instruments
  • Coast Guard Act, 1994
  • Coast Guard Act, 2016 (Act No. 9 of 2016).[2]
Specialist jurisdiction
  • Coastal patrol, marine border protection, marine search and rescue.
Operational structure
HeadquartersAgargaon, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Elected officer responsible
Agency executive
Parent agencyMinistry of Home Affairs
Functions
5
  • Marine Border Protection
  • Anti Smuggling Operations
  • Enforcement Operations
  • Maritime Operations
  • Tariff Collection
Facilities
Boats257 vessels
Notables
Anniversary
  • 14 February
Website
coastguard.gov.bd
Color: Blue , white , red   

History

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The Bangladesh Navy had been performing the duties of a coast guard in addition to its own duties of maritime defense since 1994. As time passed, the growing responsibility and workload became inconvenient for the Bangladesh Navy, with the increasing volume of policing duties at sea taking away from its primary role. The emergence of the Bangladesh Coast Guard was the result of the growing awareness in the government for the requirement of a separate service to enforce national laws in the waters under national jurisdiction and ensure safety of life and property at sea. Following this the Coast Guard Act 1994 was passed by the Parliament of Bangladesh in September 1994. Formally, the Bangladesh Coast Guard in its present shape came into being on 14 February 1995 and started operational activities with two patrol craft received from the Bangladesh Navy. The force is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Home Affairs.

The Bangladesh Coast Guard motto is 'Guardian at Sea'.

The Bangladesh Coast Guard is a unique force that carries out an array of civil and military responsibilities touching almost every facet of the Bangladesh maritime environment. The headquarters of the Bangladesh Coast Guard in Agargaon, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka-1207 and four zones (Dhaka, Chittagong, Mongla and Bhola).[1][3]

Role and mission

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Bangladesh Coast Guard unit marching in Victory Day Parade

Over 90% of Bangladesh's exports and imports pass through two seaports at Chittagong and Mongla. Sea-lines communication to these two seaports are the lifelines of the Bangladeshi economy. UNCLOS 1982 has made provision for sovereign rights for exploration and exploitation of living and non-living resources in the Bangladesh exclusive economic zone. The fishery sector contributes an important part of national export earnings. A significant quantity of gas has been discovered at Sangu in the Bay of Bengal, the extraction of which has already started. Apart from these, a vast number of ships and craft of various types and sizes operate at sea for trade, commerce, fishing, research, exploration and extraction of oil, gas and minerals and so on. To exercise effective control, to ensure safety and security and protect national and international maritime interest at sea, all these diverse activities are brought under various national and international laws and acts.

Mission

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The coast guard's mission is to control piracy, illegal trafficking, protect the fishery, oil, gas, forest resources and environmental pollution in Bangladesh waters and coastal areas, ensure overall security and law and order through security assistance to seaports, conduct relief and rescue operation in the coastal areas during natural calamity.[5]

Role

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Primary

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  • Preserve national interest at sea
  • Fishery protection
  • Prevent illegal immigration through the sea
  • Pollution control
  • Piracy control
  • Prevent smuggling, trafficking of illegal arms, drugs and narcotics
  • Disaster relief operations
  • Search and rescue operations
  • Preservation of forest
  • Surveillance over the sea areas of Bangladesh
  • Carry out any other duty assigned by the government

Secondary

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  • Assist Bangladesh Navy during war

Area of jurisdiction

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The area of jurisdiction of the Bangladesh Coast Guard is the sea territory of Bangladesh as declared under the Territorial and Maritime Zone Act, 1974. The Bangladesh Government being a signatory has ratified UNCLOS, 1982.

Areas of Jurisdiction in the Bay of Bengal are:

  • Internal Waters
  • Territorial Water
  • Contiguous Zone
  • Exclusive Economic Zone
  • Continental Shelf

Apart from the sea territory of Bangladesh, the government has also placed the waterways of the mangrove forest of Sundarban and major rivers up to Dhaka under the jurisdiction of the coast guard.

The Bangladesh Coast Guard has the following zonal command: Dhaka, East, West and South zones.

Stations, Outposts, Contingents & Camps Base Zone Stations, Outposts, Contingents & Camps Base Zone Stations, Outposts, Contingents & Camps Base Zone Stations, Outposts, Contingents & Camps Base Zone
Teknaf Iachanagar, Karnaphuli, Chattogram East Sharankhola Digraj, Mongla, Bagerhat West Nizampur Char Kali, Bhola South Pagla Dhaka Dhaka
Inani Supati Patharghata Mawa
Saint Martins Koyra Patuakhali Chandpur
Himchhari Kapilmuni Hatia Padma Bridge Composit Project
Cox's Bazar Kachikhali Lakshmipur Haimchar
Matarbari Rupsha Nidrasakina Gajaria
Kutubdia Dubla Barishal Nayani
Maheshkhali Koikhali Hijla Mohanpur
Sangu Dobeki Kaliganj Paturia
Mirsarai Harbaria Andarmanik Mill Barrack
Bhatiari Kagadobeki Ramgati
Urir Char Nalian Tazumuddin
Shahpori Char Manika
Sandwip Rangabali
Patenga Manpura
Sarikait
Baharchhara
Bhashanchar
Raypur
Kamalnagar

Command and control

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Headquarters

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Appointment Rank and Name
Director General Rear Admiral Md Ziaul Hoque OSP, afwc ndc, psc
Deputy Director-General Commodore Md. Rashed Sattar, (N), NUP, psc, BN
Director (Operations) Captain Mohammad Saiful Islam, (TAS), afwc, psc, BN
Director (Intelligence) Captain Al Farooq Mahmud Hossain, (N), NUP, afwc, psc, BN
Director (Personnel) Captain Al Farooq Mahmud Hossain, (N), NUP, afwc, psc, BN
Director (Engineering) Captain Riyadh Ibne Jamal, (E), NGP, psc, BN
Director (Logistics) Captain Mohammad Habibul Billah, (s), psc, BN
Director (IT & Communications) Captain Mohammad Shahidul Haque, (H1), psc, BN
Director (Planning & Acquisitions) Captain Md Sohel Azam, (G), NUP, ncc, psc, BN
Judge Advocate General Commander Abu Sadik Mohammed Shafiq Uddin, (Edn), BCGMS, BN
Chief Inspector and Quality Controller Commander Md Abu Bakar, (L), PCGMS, BN

Zonal commands

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Appointment Rank and Name
Zonal Commander (Dhaka Zone) Commander M Mostafijur Rahman, (ND), BCGM, psc, BN
Zonal Commander (East Zone) Captain Md Zahirul Haque, (C), BCGMS, psc, BN
Zonal Commander (West Zone) Captain Faiz Uddin Ahmed, (N), BCGM, psc, BN
Zonal Commander (South Zone) Captain Mohammed Shahin Mazid, (G), psc, BN

Training Base BCG Agrajatra

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Appointment Rank and Name
Commandant Captain Shahjahan Seraj, (G), psc, BN

Rank structure

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Commissioned officers
Rank group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers
  Bangladesh Coast Guard
                    
Rear Admiral Commodore Captain Commander Lieutenant Commander Lieutenant Sub-lieutenant Acting Sub-lieutenant Midshipman Officer Cadet
Other ranks
Rank group Senior NCOs Junior NCOs Enlisted
  Bangladesh Coast Guard
           No insignia No insignia
Master chief petty officer Senior chief petty officer Chief petty officer Petty officer Leading seaman Able seaman Ordinary seaman

Medals

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  • Bangladesh Coast Guard Padak (Bravery)
  • President Coast Guard Padak (Bravery)
  • Bangladesh Coast Guard Padak (Service)
  • President Coast Guard Padak (Service)

Source:[6]

List of Directors General

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No Name Took office Left office
1 Commodore Shafiq-ur-Rahman, (N), ncc, psc, BN 22 February 1995 6 August 1998
2 Captain M A Motalib, (G), ndu, psc, BN 7 August 1998 28 April 1999
3 Commodore M Shahabuddin, (E), psc, BN 29 April 1999 29 January 2002
4 Commodore Shah Iqbal Mujtaba, (D), ndc, psc, BN 29 January 2002 29 May 2002
5 Captain S M H Kabir, ndu, psc, BN 29 May 2002 5 March 2005
6 Rear Admiral Sarwar Jahan Nijam, (C), ndu, psc, BN 6 March 2005 8 February 2007
7 Commodore M A K Azad, (G), ndc, psc, BN 8 February 2007 5 January 2008
8 Commodore Moqsum Ul Kader (C) ndc, afwc, psc, BN 6 January 2008 25 January 2009
9 Rear Admiral Z U Ahmed, NBP, BCGM, ndc, psc, BN 26 January 2009 27 January 2009
10 Commodore Moqsum Ul Kader, (C), ndc, afwc, psc, BN 27 January 2009 23 March 2009
11 Commodore A S M A Abedin (E)ndc, psc, BN 23 March 2009 31 March 2011
12 Rear Admiral Kazi Sarwar Hossain, (TAS), (CD), ncc, psc, BN 1 April 2011 16 December 2013
13 Rear Admiral M Makbul Hossain, NBP, OSP, BCGMS, ndu, psc, BN 4 December 2013 15 February 2016
14 Rear Admiral Aurangzeb Chowdhury, (G), NBP, OSP, BCGM, PCGM, BCGMS, ndc, psc, BN 16 February 2016 26 January 2019
15 Rear Admiral M Ashraful Haq, (C), NUP, ndc, afwc, psc, BN 10 February 2019 24 August 2021
16 Rear Admiral Ashraful Hoq Chowdhury 24 August 2021 30 January 2024
17 Rear Admiral Mir Ershad Ali 30 January 2024 31 October 2024
18 Rear Admiral Md Ziaul Hoque 31 October ber 2024 Present

Ships

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Leader-class offshore patrol vessel, built in Italy
 
Sobuj Bangla-class patrol craft, built by DEW, Narayanganj, Bangladesh.
Main article: List of ships of the Bangladesh Coast Guard
Type Quantity Note
Offshore patrol vessel 4
Inshore patrol vessel 8
Fast attack craft (gun) 4
Coastal patrol craft 4
Riverine patrol craft 5
Harbour patrol boat 6
High speed patrol boat 136

Future Modernization Plan

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The Bangladesh Government has started a massive modernization plan named Coast Guard Goal 2030 to make Coast Guard a well-trained and well-equipped force to ensure the security of the coastal area. The expansion of the force manpower is also included in the plan.[4][7][8][9]

Dockyard and Engineering Works Limited is constructing two inshore patrol vessels (IPV) for the Bangladesh Coast Guard. These vessels will be 52.8 meters (173 ft 3 in) long, 7.4 m (24 ft 3 in) wide and have a draft of 4.5 m (14 ft 9 in) with a displacement of 315 metric tons (310 long tons).

The coast guard ordered six X12 high-speed boats which are being built at Dockyard and Engineering Works Limited with technical assistance from Indonesia. These ships are made of carbon composite and have a length of 11.7 metres (38 ft 5 in) and a speed of 35 knots (65 km/h; 40 mph).

In October 2021, The Bangladesh Coast Guard has ordered undisclosed number of Turkish-made Ares 150 Hercules offshore patrol vessels.[10]

The formation of the coast guard's aviation wing is under process. The force has a plan to procure ten helicopters for patrolling and search and rescue (SAR) operations within 2025.[11]

The coast guard also wants to be a technologically advanced outfit in monitoring the sea. It has a long-term plan of installing long-range identification and tracking (LRIT) and vessel traffic management information systems (VTMIS) by 2025.[11]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Khan, Mohammad Jamil (14 February 2016). "'Continue effort to trafficking of drugs and humans'". Dhaka Tribune. Archived from the original on 3 April 2016. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
  2. ^ Coast Guard Act, 2016 (9). 2016.
  3. ^ a b "Govt committed to giving 'Blue Economy' concept into reality: PM". Bangladesh Awami League. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  4. ^ a b "Bangladesh Coast Guard to be transformed into three-dimensional force: PM". The Daily Star. 10 March 2024. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  5. ^ "Mission". coastguard.gov.bd. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  6. ^ Bangladesh Coast Guard. "Medal gallery of Bangladesh Coast Guard" (PDF).
  7. ^ "Coast Guard to be transformed into three dimensional force: PM Hasina". The Business Standard. 10 March 2024. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  8. ^ "PM Hasina: Coast Guard to be built as a modern force". Dhaka Tribune. 21 June 2023. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  9. ^ "Coast Guard to be transformed into three dimensional force, says PM". The Financial Express. 10 March 2024. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  10. ^ "Bangladesh Coast Guard has ordered Turkish-made ARES 150 HERCULES OPVs Offshore Patrol Vessels". Navy Recognition. 17 October 2021.
  11. ^ a b "Increasing the Coast Guard's capacity". The Independent. Dhaka. 30 June 2016. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
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