DoS to clarify MoU signing with Iran

The department of shipping (DoS) has been asked to clarify signing of two memoranda of understanding (MoU) with Iran without prior consent of the shipping and foreign ministries, officials have said.
In a letter to the DoS this week the ministry of shipping (MoS) said due procedures were not followed in signing the two bilateral MoUs.
The DoS had signed the two MoUs on December 31 last, when a delegation of the Iranian Port and Maritime Organisation and the National Iranian Tanker Company visited Bangladesh.
DoS officials informed the ministry about the MoUs ten days after the signing.
The two MoUs were about mutual recognition of certificates for mariners given by both Bangladeshi and Iranian marine institutions for both ocean-going (unlimited voyage) and coastal ships (coastal voyage).
The memos were signed under the STCW-2010 (Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping) convention.
The MoS in the letter asked the DoS to clarify the reasons for signing the MoUs without taking prior approval from the ministry and explain whether it was done by following the related rules.
It also sought explanation as to why the DoS did not involve the foreign ministry in signing of the MoUs.
When contacted, DoS director general Zakiur Rahman Bhuiyan claimed that in case of the MoU on 'unlimited voyage by ocean-going ships', he made amendments to a previously-signed MoU in line with the STCW-2010 convention.
However, he acknowledged that the MoU on 'near coastal voyage' was a fresh one and for the first time the country signed such a memo with a foreign organisation.    
Asked whether a prior approval from the shipping and foreign ministries was necessary in this case, Mr Bhuiyan claimed that the DoS director general was empowered to sign such memos.
"After taking office as DG of the DoS months back, I signed a similar MoU with Germany directly without informing the ministries," he said.
Mr Bhuiyan said presently Bangladesh has MoUs with 27 countries for recognition of certificates given by Bangladesh's marine institutions.
He said hundreds of Bangladeshi mariners were now working aboard Iranian ships. "The MoU will create scope for an increased number of jobs for Bangladeshi mariners," he added.
Mr Bhuiyan said Iranian ship-owners had confidence in Bangladeshi mariners. "The Iranian delegation visited two private sector marine institutes during their last visit and expressed satisfaction."  
"Due to signing of the MoU on 'near coastal voyage', many Bangladeshi mariners will now get jobs aboard Iranian coastal vessels," he added.
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