Bangladesh Marine Fisheries Academy(BMFA) is a government-run training

Training

The term training refers to the acquisition of knowledge, skills, and competencies as a result of the teaching of vocational or practical skills and knowledge that relate to specific useful competencies. It forms the core of apprenticeships and provides the backbone of content at institutes of...

 institution in Bangladesh

Bangladesh

Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...

 for cadet

Cadet

A cadet is a trainee to become an officer in the military, often a person who is a junior trainee. The term comes from the term "cadet" for younger sons of a noble family.- Military context :...

s wishing to enter the fishing industry

Fishing industry

The fishing industry includes any industry or activity concerned with taking, culturing, processing, preserving, storing, transporting, marketing or selling fish or fish products....

, merchant shipping and other related maritime industries. Established in 1973, it is the only national organization offering training for these professions.

Establishment and location

Fishing in Bangladesh

Fishing in Bangladesh

Bangladesh being a first line littoral state of the Indian Ocean has a very good source of marine resources in the Bay of Bengal. The country has an exclusive economic zone of , which is 73% of the country’s land area. On the other hand, Bangladesh is a small and developing country overloaded with...

 is an important industry for a country with a shoreline on the Indian Ocean

Indian Ocean

The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering approximately 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by the Indian Subcontinent and Arabian Peninsula ; on the west by eastern Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and...

. Therefore, to explore and exploit the sea resources from 41000 square miles (106,189.5 km²) of Exclusive Economic Zone, Bangladesh required to train personnel for our Fishery Sector which, inspired Government to establish Marine Fisheries Academy (MFA).

After the Bangladesh war of 1971 that established the country of Bangladesh, it was felt that the country lacked skilled manpower for the judicious exploitation and harvesting of marine fisheries resources. From 1972 there was a call for a national institution to train and educate personnel for Bangladesh maritime fisheries industries. The year was also the beginning of a rapid technological change in the deep sea fishing, with the introduction of large and sophisticated deep sea fishing vessels. The government realized that without qualified officers the growth of an

Administrative control

Academy started its journey as a project of Bangladesh Fisheries Development Corporation (BFDC) and on 20 April 1988 it came under the administrative control of Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock as a project. But on 1 July 1993 the Academy was transferred to revenue budget under the same Ministry. Since then the Academy is functioning under the Administrative control of the Ministry. The functional authority of the Academy is vested on the Principal who has three assisting organs namely Academic Council, Board of Studies and Board of Discipline. The Academy has officers and staffs to carry out the instructional duties as well as administrative functions. To cover up the shortage of permanent instructors the Academy has number of required regular visiting lecturers as well. The Academy is having three departments and an administrative wing.

Curriculum

The academy offers a range of bachelor degree courses under Bangladesh National University

Bangladesh National University

Bangladesh National University is a parent university of Bangladesh which was primarily established to affiliate all the universities and colleges. It is situated in Gazipur, on the outskirts of Dhaka.-Organization:...

, Gazipur

Gazipur, Dhaka Division

Gazipur is a town located within the Gazipur Sadar sub-district of Gazipur District in the Dhaka Division of Bangladesh.Gazipur consists of 9 wards and 31 mahallas with an area of 49.32 km²...

. These are accredited courses, recognized throughout Bangladesh and elsewhere. Professional qualifications are recognized by the appropriate professional bodies throughout the world. These courses are for those who want to serve at sea on board fishing/merchant vessels and on shore as processing technologists and so on.

The total duration of training of the cadets is three years. Out of that 1st and 2nd year training is conducted in the Academy to cover the theoretical aspects of professional and academic subjects. On completion of each year, they attend year final examination conducted by the National University. In the 3rd year they undergo practical sea training for 24 weeks on board deep sea fishing vessels and the rest of the 3rd year covers industrial training, practice and ancillary courses. On successful completion of these courses they attend final examination under National University. Thereafter the Marine Fisheries Academy training culminates with the passing out parade and award of graduation certificates.

Training in Marine Fisheries Academy has four dimensions. Throughout their stay in the academy cadets are trained on four major aspects as shown below:
a) Character Building : Development of sound and balanced character, truthfulness, honesty, hard work and dedication to duty and self respect has maximum focus in MFA training.
(b) Professional Training : MFA syllabus includes the professional subjects like Maritime Science (Nautical), Ship Board Operations, Maritime Science (Engineering), Engineering Sciences, Marine Science and Post Harvest Technology.
(c) Academic Training : MFA teaches the subjects of English, Physics, Mathematics, General Zoology, Bio-Chemistry and Bangladesh Studies.
(d) Physical Training : MFA conducts physical training and parade, which contributes to the physical development, in addition it instills qualities like coolness, alertness, courage, self control, concentration, companionship and healthy sense of team spirit in the Cadets.

B.Sc.(Pass) Nautical

This is a comprehensive course for nautical education which provides academic and practical training on Navigation to the trainee cadet officers. Cadets of this course are trained up in such a way that they can navigate the ship by using stars and planets whenever satellite dependent electronic equipment betrays. This is a 3 (Three) years duration B.Sc.(Pass) course.

Cadets passed out from this Academy are serving in different capacity on boar Fishing and Merchant vessels both in home and abroad. At the beginning of the career on completion of requisite service cadets become eligible to appear in the Certificate of Competency (COC), conducted by Department of Shipping, Dhaka to achieve higher positions on board ships. Moreover experienced Navigators serve in various shore-based organization as Manager, Director and Adviser and as Instructor in Maritime Training Institutions.

B.Sc.(Pass) Marine Engineering

Cadets of this course complete a three-year full-time course in operation, maintenance and repair of marine engines and ship propulsion systems. Cadets undergo at least 24 weeks of industrial/sea practices. They also do sufficient workshop practices.

After successful completion of three years course at the Academy, the Engineering cadets can find jobs in diverse positions as Engineer on board Fishing or Merchant vessel. Besides finding employment on board ship, they will find a good opportunity in shore-based industries.

B.Sc.(Pass) Marine Fisheries

This is fully integrated professional course for the persons who are willing to prepare themselves for variety of careers in the fishing Vessels, Fish Processing Plants, Aquaculture Farm and Hatcheries etc. Cadets get sufficient practical training at sea and in various processing plants and aquaculture industry.

After successful completion of this course the passed out cadets can accommodate themselves into the commercial Fishing Industry, Fish Processing Industry, Hatchery, Aquaculture Farm, NGO's Processing Technologists, Quality Control Officers, Managers and Consultant.

Admission

Applications are invited from interested male citizens of Bangladesh for admission in B. Sc. (Pass) Nautical, B. Sc. (Pass) Marine Engineering and B. Sc. (Pass) Marine Fisheries Courses of Marine Fisheries Academy under the affiliation of National University , Gazipur.

Written Test will be held in two centers in Dhaka ( Note Dame College) and Chittagong at the same date and time.
One candidate may apply for any one course or for all three courses. This test is conducted on HSC standard subjects like English, Physics, Chemistry and General Knowledge which are common subjects for both Nautical/ Marine Engineering and Marine Fisheries Groups, Mathematics for Nautical/ Marine Engineering Group and Biology for Marine Fisheries Group. If someone opts for all three Departmental courses then he has to appear all six subjects.

For Nautical and Engineering Course: The Applicant must pass SSC and HSC examination with Mathematics minimum in 2nd Div or with GPA 2.5. In case any candidate had mathematics as forth subject he has to obtain at least 40% marks in that subject.
For Marine Fisheries Course: The Applicant must pass SSC and HSC examination with Biology minimum in 2nd Div or with GPA 2.5. In case any candidate had Biology as forth subject he has to obtain at least 40% marks in that subject.
Candidates appeared HSC Examination in 2006 and fulfill the above criteria may apply but he has to attach a certificate from the Head of his last Educational Institute that he has appeared HSC exam and expected to pass with minimum GPA 2.5.
Maximum age limit of the candidate is 20 years on the date as mentioned in the newspaper advertisement.
Candidate should be of good health and having minimum height and weight 162.5 cm and 50 kg respectively.

Discipline

Ability to command the subordinates and carry out orders and superiors with utmost speed, promptness and judgment is of paramount importance for marine officers on board ship. This can only be expected from those who have developed complete adherence to the norms of discipline, which is essentially regarded as cumulative display of qualities of head and heart, sound training and professional competence. As such, due emphasis is laid on these aspects and the whole training programme and the activities of the Academy are designed to achieve this goal i. e. a high standard of discipline as in the Maritime Academies and similar other training institutions of the world. The Principal of the Academy reserves the right of dismissing any cadet at any time from the course or awarding any other suitable punishment in the event of breaking the rules of discipline of the Academy.

Cadets are granted shore leave (liberty) during weekend and other Government holidays from 0900 hrs to 1800 hrs. This facility allows the cadets to proceed ashore. A leave or liberty may be curtailed if a cadet's conduct is found unsatisfactory. Principal may extend, reduce or cancel leave or liberty when it seems that such action would be in the best interests of the Academy.

Graduation

On completion of the three-year course in the Academy the cadets are given the B. Sc. (Pass) Degree from National University, and are given Pre-Sea Nautical / Marine Engineering / Marine Fisheries certificates through a ceremony, which is called the "Passing-Out Parade." This is the most colorful event and a very special occasion for the cadets. During the passing-out parade all cadets of the Academy carry out different colorful march-pasts, like the cadets of the Armed Forces Academy, and show marks of respect to the Chief Guest of the Ceremony in the presence of distinguished guests and the cadets' parents. With an internationally accepted Pre-sea training certificate and a degree from the National University, graduates are able to find jobs both domestically and overseas. , approximately 40% of academy's previous graduates are working in different organizations and capacities all over the world.

Annual Inter-House Competition

The cadets of three batches is equally divided by 4 houses
* Sea Horse(champion 2011 in inter house , inter house vollyball & basketbal champion)
House Instructor- Lt Cdr M Saiful Mulk
SI(Marine)
HOD, Marine Engineering Branch
House Captain- Cadet Nahid(29th Batch)
*Tiger shark
House Instructor- M Mahbul Alam
Instructor(Fish), Marine Fisheries Branch
House Captain- Cadet Salman(29th Batch)
* Sea Lion
House Instructor- Selina Sultana
JI(QC)
House Captain- Cadet ANJAM(29th Batch)
* Blue Whale
House Instructor- M Maniruzzaman
Education Officer (Physics)
House Captain- Cadet 0vijit (29th Batch)
Inter-house Football, Volleyball, Basket ball and Swimming competition is held every year.