Bangladesh Marine Academy

The Bangladesh Marine Academy is a maritime training institution in Chittagong, Bangladesh. This academy provide theoretical and practical training to cadet, deck officer and marine engineer for merchant ship. It is the only university of its kind in the country and was established in 1962. The academy is situated overlooking the Bay of Bengal from the hill tops of Juldia on the east bank of the Karnafuli River, about 20 kilometres south of the Chittagong city.The academy has also been recognized as one of the branches of the World Maritime University (WMU), Malmö, Sweden in 1989 for its academic excellence, good training, quality marine manpower production and overall performance. Bangladesh was placed on the White list in the year 2000.Sheikh Mujib Maritime University, Bangladesh is going to be set up on the campus of Bangladesh Marine Academy. This will be South Asia's second Maritime University. Marine cadets will get ‘Bachelor of Maritime Science’ degrees from the university. Honorable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has unveiled Inauguration Plaque of Sheikh Mujib Maritime University on 26 February 2011.HistoryWorld scenario was changing fast after the WWII . Pakistan along with East Bengal became independent in 1947 from British rule. Thereafter, the then Pakistan Government looked into developing various industrial training facilities. As such a scheme for establishing a marine academy beside Bay of Bengal had been sanctioned in 1952. Juldia Point at the Karnaphuly river-mouth at Bay of Bengal was chosen for the planned academy. Interesting to note that the reason was to create a ‘ship-like environment’ due to geographical location the Juldia Point was considered as it was almost like a ship but not floating! Such suitable facility/location was unique in the country and was not available from Suez to South-East Asian countries except India.