Bangladesh Coast Guard

Bangladesh Coast Guard
বাংলাদেশ কোস্ট গার্ড
Monogram of Bangladesh Coast Guard
Monogram of Bangladesh Coast Guard
Racing stripe of Bangladesh Coast Guard
Racing stripe of Bangladesh Coast Guard
Flag of Bangladesh Coast Guard
Flag of Bangladesh Coast Guard
AbbreviationBCG
MottoGuardians of the Seas (Bengali: সমুদ্রের রক্ষক)
Agency overview
Formed14 February 1995; 30 years ago (1995-02-14)
Employees3,339 personnel
Annual budget৳1300 crore (US$110 million) (2024-2025)[1]
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
Minister 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   

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 BCG has 3,339 personnel[3] and 63 ships.[4] A modernisation plan named Coast Guard Goal 2030 is being undertaken to enhance its capabilities.[5]

History

The Bangladesh Navy had been performing the duties of a coast guard in addition to its own duties of maritime defence 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' (Bengali: সমুদ্রের রক্ষক).

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 is in Agargaon, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka-1207 and four zones (Dhaka, Chittagong, Mongla and Bhola).[3][4]

Role and mission

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

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.[6]

Role

Primary

  • 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

  • Assist Bangladesh Navy during war

Area of jurisdiction

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:

Apart from the sea territory of Bangladesh, the government has also placed the waterways of the mangrove forest of Sundarbans 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 & CampsBaseZoneStations, Outposts, Contingents & CampsBaseZoneStations, Outposts, Contingents & CampsBaseZoneStations, Outposts, Contingents & CampsBaseZone
TeknafIachanagar, Karnaphuli, ChattogramEastSharankholaDigraj, Mongla, BagerhatWestNizampurChar Kali, BholaSouthPaglaDhakaDhaka
InaniSupatiPatharghataMawa
Saint MartinsKoyraPatuakhaliChandpur
HimchhariKapilmuniHatiaPadma Bridge Composit Project
Cox's BazarKachikhaliLakshmipurHaimchar
MatarbariRupshaNidrasakinaGajaria
KutubdiaDublaBarishalNayani
MaheshkhaliKoikhaliHijlaMohanpur
SanguDobekiKaliganjPaturia
MirsaraiHarbariaAndarmanikMill Barrack
BhatiariKagadobekiRamgati
Urir CharNalianTazumuddin
ShahporiChar Manika
SandwipRangabali
PatengaManpura
Sarikait
Baharchhara
Bhashanchar
Raypur
Kamalnagar

Command and control

Headquarters

AppointmentRank and Name
Director GeneralRear Admiral Md Ziaul Hoque OSP, afwc ndc, psc
Deputy Director-GeneralCommodore 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 GeneralCommander Abu Sadik Mohammed Shafiq Uddin, (Edn), BCGMS, BN
Chief Inspector and Quality ControllerCommander Md Abu Bakar, (L), PCGMS, BN

Zonal commands

AppointmentRank 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 Mehedi Hasan, (C), nup, psc, BN
Zonal Commander (South Zone)Captain Mohammed Shahin Mazid, (G), psc, BN

Training Base BCG Agrajatra

AppointmentRank and Name
CommandantCaptain Shahjahan Seraj, (G), psc, BN

Rank structure

Commissioned officers
Rank groupGeneral / flag officersSenior officersJunior officers
Bangladesh Coast Guard[7]
রিয়ার এডমিরাল
Riẏāra ēḍamirāla		কমডোর
Kamaḍōra		ক্যাপ্টেন
Kyāpṭēna		কমান্ডার
Kamānḍāra		লেফটেন্যান্ট কমান্ডার
Lēphaṭēn'yānṭa kamānḍāra		লেফটেন্যান্ট
Lēphaṭēn'yānṭa		সাব লেফটেন্যান্ট
Sāba lēphaṭēn'yānṭa		Acting Sub-lieutenantMidshipmanOfficer Cadet
Other ranks
Rank groupSubordinate Officers (SO)Non commissioned officers (NCO)Enlisted
Bangladesh Coast Guard[7]
No insigniaNo insignia
মাস্টার চীফ পেটি অফিসার
Māsṭāra cīpha pēṭi aphisāra		সিনিয়র চীফ পেটি অফিসার
Siniẏara cīpha pēṭi aphisāra		চীফ পেটি অফিসার
Cīpha pēṭi aphisāra		পেটি অফিসার
Pēṭi aphisāra		লিডিং সীম্যান
Liḍiṁ sīmyāna		এ্যাবল সীম্যান
Ēyābala sīmyāna		অরডিনারী সীম্যান
Araḍinārī sīmyāna

Medals

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

Source:[8]

List of Directors General

NoNameTook officeLeft office
1Commodore Shafiq-ur-Rahman, (N), ncc, psc, BN22 February 19956 August 1998
2Captain M A Motalib, (G), ndu, psc, BN7 August 199828 April 1999
3Commodore M Shahabuddin, (E), psc, BN29 April 199929 January 2002
4Commodore Shah Iqbal Mujtaba, (D), ndc, psc, BN29 January 200229 May 2002
5Captain S M H Kabir, ndu, psc, BN29 May 20025 March 2005
6Rear Admiral Sarwar Jahan Nijam, (C), ndu, psc, BN6 March 20058 February 2007
7Commodore M A K Azad, (G), ndc, psc, BN8 February 20075 January 2008
8Commodore Moqsum Ul Kader (C) ndc, afwc, psc, BN6 January 200825 January 2009
9Rear Admiral Z U Ahmed, NBP, BCGM, ndc, psc, BN26 January 200927 January 2009
10Commodore Moqsum Ul Kader, (C), ndc, afwc, psc, BN27 January 200923 March 2009
11Commodore A S M A Abedin (E)ndc, psc, BN23 March 200931 March 2011
12Rear Admiral Kazi Sarwar Hossain, (TAS), (CD), ncc, psc, BN1 April 201116 December 2013
13Rear Admiral M Makbul Hossain, NBP, OSP, BCGMS, ndu, psc, BN4 December 201315 February 2016
14Rear Admiral Aurangzeb Chowdhury, (G), NBP, OSP, BCGM, PCGM, BCGMS, ndc, psc, BN16 February 201626 January 2019
15Rear Admiral M Ashraful Haq, (C), NUP, ndc, afwc, psc, BN10 February 201924 August 2021
16Rear Admiral Ashraful Hoq Chowdhury24 August 202130 January 2024
17Rear Admiral Mir Ershad Ali30 January 202431 October 2024
18Rear Admiral Md. Ziaul Hoque31 October ber 2024Present

Ships

Leader-class offshore patrol vessel, built in Italy
Sobuj Bangla-class patrol craft, built by DEW, Narayanganj, Bangladesh.
TypeQuantityNote
Offshore patrol vessel4
Inshore patrol vessel8
Fast attack craft (gun)4
Coastal patrol craft4
Riverine patrol craft5
Harbour patrol boat6
High speed patrol boat136

Future Modernization Plan

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.[5][9][10][11]

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).

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.[12]

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.[12]

References

  1. ^ https://mof.portal.gov.bd/sites/default/files/files/mof.portal.gov.bd/budget_mof/5696a78d_4e4f_4c75_aadd_ae020280a89b/122_PSD_English.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  2. ^ Coast Guard Act, 2016 (9). 2016.
  3. ^ a b 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.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ a b "Bangladesh Coast Guard to be transformed into three-dimensional force: PM". The Daily Star. 10 March 2024. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  6. ^ "Mission". coastguard.gov.bd. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  7. ^ a b পদ পরিচিতি [Position Introduction]. Bangladesh Coast Guard (in Bengali).
  8. ^ Bangladesh Coast Guard. "Medal gallery of Bangladesh Coast Guard" (PDF).
  9. ^ "Coast Guard to be transformed into three dimensional force: PM Hasina". The Business Standard. 10 March 2024. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  10. ^ "PM Hasina: Coast Guard to be built as a modern force". Dhaka Tribune. 21 June 2023. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  11. ^ "Coast Guard to be transformed into three dimensional force, says PM". The Financial Express. 10 March 2024. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  12. ^ a b "Increasing the Coast Guard's capacity". The Independent. Dhaka. 30 June 2016. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
  • Bangladesh Coast Guard Website
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bangladesh_Coast_Guard&oldid=1324564070"