Denmark on Thursday received the first Bangladesh-made ocean going vessel. Commerce adviser Hossain Zillur Rahman handed over the ship to the representatives of Stella Shipping of Denmark, saying that from now on the country will be considered one of the leading shipbuilders in the global village.
Ananda Shipyard and Shipways Ltd, a premier shipbuilding company, made the ship `Stella Maris’ at Ananda Shipyard in Sonargaon upazila of Narayanganj district. ASSL chairman Abdullahel Bari presided over the handing over ceremony at the Ananda Shipyard, while managing director of the group Afroza Bari also spoke.
Speaking as the chief guest, Zillur Rahman referred to the handing over of the ocean liner as a historic moment and said the government has attached top priority to shipbuilding sector considering its enormous potentially in the macroeconomic development.
The government believes in the public-private synchronisation to expand the industrial sector by upgrading infrastructure facilities, said the commerce adviser.
Industries secretary Nurul Amin, Danish ambassador to Bangladesh Einer Hebogaard Jensen, chairman of executive committee of Islami Bank Bangladesh Ltd Mominul Islam Patwari, former vice-chancellor of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology MH Khan were present as special guests at the function.
Chairman of Stella Shipping of Denmark Jan Fabricius, managing director of Bank of Small Industries and Commerce AH Ekbal Hossain, and managing director of IBBL Fariduddin Ahmed were present as guest of honours.
Nurul Amin said the government had declared the shipbuilding sector as third foreign exchange earner while the sector has emerged as booming in recent years. Terming the occasion as `new history and new possibilities, Einer Hebogaard Jensen said with handing over of the seagoing ship the existing relationship between the two countries would be strengthened.
He underscored the need for green channel and bonded warehouse facilities in terms of export potential and creation of job opportunities in Bangladesh.
Mominul Islam Patwari said Bangladesh would be one of the most remarkable shipbuilders in near future.
Afroza Bari said, since its onset in 1985, ASSL has so far supplied 300 world-class ships and created jobs for 700 workers. ASSL sources said the group has received orders of Tk 1,500 crore for making of 21 vessels for Denmark, Germany and Mozambique.
Source: Bangladesh News Service
This entry was posted on Wednesday, May 21st, 2008 at 7:24 am and is filed under Bangladesh. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.