Govt to bolster coastguard capacity to combat growing crimes at sea

FHM Humayan Kabir | Published: May 19, 2015 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00

Amid a veritable humanitarian crisis with hordes of deceived fortune-seekers floating at sea, the government has moved to bolster vigilance capacity of Bangladesh Coast Guard to check such crimes and safeguard the county's seafront.
Ministry of Home Affairs officials said Monday the coastguard had undertaken a Tk 4.68 billion project to enhance its combat capacity.
"In recent days human trafficking through the sea has risen alarmingly. The capacity building of the coastguard will help to check the illegal migration," said one official.
"Besides," he said, "the Bangladeshi Coast Guard is not well-equipped. It needs some logistics to strengthen its vigilance on the waters. The government-funded Tk 4.68 billion proposed project will help in boosting its capacity."
Reports say thousands of Bangladeshi and Burmese Rohingya people are trying to migrate to different countries, including Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia, illegally through seawaters in risky boat ride.
Many of them are stranded at sea and some have died for want of food and water and proper treatment as well as brutal action by manpower-smuggling rackets.
Experts said if the Bangladeshi coastguard force is equipped enough, the illegal migration through the risky voyage could be checked by their proper vigilance.
The home ministry has recently requested the Planning Commission to approve the Tk 4.68 billion project styled 'enhancement of operational capacity of the Bangladesh Coast Guard'.
According to the project proposal, the coastguard will procure three inshore patrol vessels, six high-speed boats, one floating crane, and some other necessary equipment for the sea and coastal vigilance.
The government in 1994 formed the paramilitary force-- Bangladesh Coast Guard-to protect Bangladesh's maritime boundary.
Bangladesh has nearly 710 kilometres of coastal boundary and 200 miles of special economic zone in the sea.
The home ministry official said the proposed project will help to check illegal migration and smuggling, protect fisheries and sea resources under the country's special economic zone, and ensure security of the country.
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