Published: 12:01 AM, 19 August 2026
Coast Guard, Department of Shipping Sign MoU to Strengthen Maritime Cooperation
The Bangladesh Coast Guard and the Department of Shipping (DoS) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening inter-agency coordination in maritime safety, environmental protection and search-and-rescue operations.
The MoU was signed on August 18, 2026, at Bangladesh Coast Guard Headquarters. Following the signing ceremony, Bangladesh Coast Guard Director General Rear Admiral Md Ziaul Haque and Department of Shipping Director General Commodore Md Shafiul Bari briefed the media on the agreement, according to a press release.
Maritime transport is a vital sector for Bangladesh. Given the country's extensive maritime boundary, coastal areas, ports, waterways and growing maritime activities, effective coordination among government agencies is essential to ensure safety and security.
Coordinated efforts are also necessary to fulfil Bangladesh's responsibilities under international maritime conventions. The Department of Shipping, under the Ministry of Shipping, serves as Bangladesh's Maritime Safety Administration and is responsible for ship safety, maritime security and the prevention of marine pollution from ships. The Bangladesh Coast Guard, under the Ministry of Home Affairs, is a law-enforcement agency responsible for law enforcement and related activities in Bangladesh's maritime areas.
Although the two institutions operate under different ministries and have distinct mandates, their responsibilities are closely interconnected in areas including maritime safety, environmental protection and emergency response.
Against this backdrop, the MoU has been developed to establish a structured and effective coordination mechanism between the Department of Shipping and the Bangladesh Coast Guard.
It provides a framework for cooperation in maritime safety, marine environmental protection and maritime Search and Rescue (SAR) operations.
