View source for Bangladesh Coast Guard

{{Short description|Coastal security and paramilitary force of Bangladesh}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{more citations needed|date=May 2012}}
{{Infobox law enforcement agency
| agencyname        = Bangladesh Coast Guard
| nativenamea       = বাংলাদেশ কোস্ট গার্ড
| nativenamer       = 
| commonname        = 
| abbreviation      = BCG
| patchcaption      = Bangladesh Coast Guard Logo
| logo              = File:বাংলাদেশ কোস্ট গার্ডের প্রতীক.svg
| logocaption       =  [[Monogram]] of Bangladesh Coast Guard
| motto             = Guardians of the Seas ({{langx|bn|সমুদ্রের রক্ষক}})
| badge             = Bangladesh Coast Guard racing stripe.svg
| badgecaption      = [[Racing stripe#Use on watercraft|Racing stripe]] of Bangladesh Coast Guard
| flag              = Ensign of the Bangladesh Coast Guard.svg
| flagcaption       =  [[Flag]] of Bangladesh Coast Guard
| imagesize         = 
| formed            = {{start date and age|1995|02|14|df=y}}
| preceding1        = 
| volunteers        = 
| budget            = {{BDTConvert|1026|c|1k=yes}} (2023-2024)
| country           = Bangladesh
| national          = Bangladesh
| governingbody     = [[Government of Bangladesh]]
| constitution1     = Coast Guard Act, 1994
| constitution2     = Coast Guard Act, 2016 (Act No. 9 of 2016).<ref>{{cite act|url=https://www.informea.org/en/legislation/coast-guard-act-2016-act-no-9-2016|index=9|year=2016|title=Coast Guard Act, 2016}}</ref>
| speciality1       = coast
| speciality2       = 
| headquarters      = [[Agargaon]], [[Dhaka]], [[Bangladesh]]
| electeetype       = Minister 
| minister1name     = [[Jahangir Alam Chowdhury]]
| minister1pfo      = [[Minister of Home Affairs (Bangladesh)|Minister of Home Affairs]]
| chief1name        = [[Rear admiral]] Md Ziaul Hoque, OSP, afwc, ndc, psc
| chief1position    = [[Director General]]
| parentagency      = [[Ministry of Home Affairs (Bangladesh)|Ministry of Home Affairs]]
| child1agency      = 
| unittype          = Functions
| unitname          = {{collapsible list |title=5 |Marine Border Protection |Anti Smuggling Operations |Enforcement Operations |Maritime Operations |Tariff Collection}}
| boats1            = 257 vessels
| employees         = 3,339 personnel 
| anniversary1      = 14 February
| website           = {{URL|http://coastguard.gov.bd}}
| footnotes         = Color:  Blue , white , red {{colour box|#FFDF00}}{{colour box|#23238E}}
| reference         = 
}}
The '''Bangladesh Coast Guard''' ({{langx|bn|বাংলাদেশ কোস্ট গার্ড}}; '''BCG''') is the maritime [[Law enforcement agency|law enforcement force]] of [[Bangladesh]]. It is a [[Paramilitary|paramilitary force]] which is under the jurisdiction of the [[Ministry of Home Affairs (Bangladesh)|Ministry of Home Affairs]]. Its officers and sailors are transferred from the [[Bangladesh Navy]], and most of the medical officers are transferred from the [[Bangladesh Army]]. The Bangladesh Coast Guard also performs the duty of maritime border security of Bangladesh. The headquarters is located in [[Dhaka]], Bangladesh. The BCG has 3,339 personnel<ref name="cga">{{cite news |last=Khan |first=Mohammad Jamil |date=14 February 2016 |title='Continue effort to trafficking of drugs and humans' |url=http://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/2016/feb/14/continue-effort-trafficking-drugs-and-humans#sthash.KKR8lYod.dpuf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160403101258/http://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/2016/feb/14/continue-effort-trafficking-drugs-and-humans |archive-date=3 April 2016 |access-date=14 February 2016 |work=[[Dhaka Tribune]]}}</ref> and 63 ships.<ref name=awami/> A modernisation plan named ''[[Coast Guard Goal 2030]]'' is being undertaken to enhance its capabilities.<ref name="thedailystar.net">{{cite web |date=10 March 2024 |title=Bangladesh Coast Guard to be transformed into three-dimensional force: PM |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/bangladesh-coast-guard-be-transformed-three-dimensional-force-pm-3563386 |access-date=5 August 2024 |website=[[The Daily Star (Bangladesh)|The Daily Star]]}}</ref>

== History ==
The [[Bangladesh Navy]] had been performing the duties of a coast guard in addition to its own duties of maritime defence since 1994. As time passed, the growing responsibility and workload became inconvenient for the [[Bangladesh Navy]], with the increasing volume of policing duties at sea taking away from its primary role. The emergence of the Bangladesh Coast Guard was the result of the growing awareness in the government for the requirement of a separate service to enforce national laws in the waters under national jurisdiction and ensure safety of life and property at sea. Following this the ''Coast Guard Act 1994'' was passed by the [[Parliament of Bangladesh]] in September 1994.
Formally, the Bangladesh Coast Guard in its present shape came into being on 14 February 1995 and started operational activities with two [[patrol craft]] received from the [[Bangladesh Navy]]. The force is under the jurisdiction of the [[Ministry of Home Affairs (Bangladesh)|Ministry of Home Affairs]].

The Bangladesh Coast Guard motto is 'Guardian at Sea' ({{langx|bn|সমুদ্রের রক্ষক}}).

The Bangladesh Coast Guard is a unique force that carries out an array of civil and military responsibilities touching almost every facet of the Bangladesh maritime environment. The headquarters of the Bangladesh Coast Guard in [[Agargaon]], Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka-1207 and four zones (Dhaka, Chittagong, Mongla and Bhola).<ref name="cga" /><ref name="awami">{{cite web |title=Govt committed to giving 'Blue Economy' concept into reality: PM |url=https://www.albd.org/index.php/en/updates/news/2024-govt-committed-to-giving-blue-economy-concept-into-reality-pm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402191832/https://www.albd.org/index.php/en/updates/news/2024-govt-committed-to-giving-blue-economy-concept-into-reality-pm |archive-date=2 April 2015 |access-date=20 May 2015 |publisher=[[Bangladesh Awami League]]}}</ref>

== Role and mission ==
[[File: Victory Day Parade, Bangladesh - Jubair Bin Iqbal.jpg|300px|thumb|right|Bangladesh Coast Guard unit marching in Victory Day Parade]]
Over 90% of Bangladesh's exports and imports pass through two seaports at [[Chittagong]] and [[Port of Mongla|Mongla]]. Sea-lines communication to these two seaports are the lifelines of the [[Economy of Bangladesh|Bangladeshi economy]]. UNCLOS 1982 has made provision for sovereign rights for exploration and exploitation of living and non-living resources in the Bangladesh [[exclusive economic zone]]. The fishery sector contributes an important part of national export earnings. A significant quantity of gas has been discovered at [[Sangu River|Sangu]] in the [[Bay of Bengal]], the extraction of which has already started. Apart from these, a vast number of ships and craft of various types and sizes operate at sea for trade, commerce, fishing, research, exploration and extraction of oil, gas and minerals and so on. To exercise effective control, to ensure safety and security and protect national and international maritime interest at sea, all these diverse activities are brought under various national and international laws and acts.

===Mission=== 
The coast guard's mission is to control piracy, illegal trafficking, protect the fishery, oil, gas, forest resources and environmental pollution in Bangladesh waters and coastal areas, ensure overall security and law and order through security assistance to seaports, conduct relief and rescue operation in the coastal areas during natural calamity.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mission |url=http://www.coastguard.gov.bd/site/page/e47f5581-c68f-4584-8867-970e1a34a0f6/ |website=coastguard.gov.bd |access-date=30 October 2020}}</ref>

===Role===

====Primary====
* Preserve national interest at sea
* Fishery protection
* Prevent illegal immigration through the sea
* Pollution control
* Piracy control
* Prevent smuggling, trafficking of illegal arms, drugs and narcotics
* Disaster relief operations
* Search and rescue operations
* Preservation of forest
* Surveillance over the sea areas of Bangladesh
* Carry out any other duty assigned by the government

====Secondary====
* Assist Bangladesh Navy during war

==Area of jurisdiction==
The area of jurisdiction of the Bangladesh Coast Guard is the sea territory of Bangladesh as declared under the Territorial and Maritime Zone Act, 1974. The Bangladesh Government being a signatory has ratified UNCLOS, 1982.

Areas of Jurisdiction in the Bay of Bengal are:
* Internal Waters
* [[Territorial waters|Territorial Water]]
* Contiguous Zone
* [[Exclusive Economic Zone]]
* Continental Shelf

Apart from the sea territory of [[Bangladesh]], the [[Government of Bangladesh|government]] has also placed the waterways of the mangrove forest of [[Sundarban]]s and major rivers up to [[Dhaka]] under the jurisdiction of the coast guard.

The Bangladesh Coast Guard has the following zonal command: Dhaka, East, West and South zones.
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Stations, Outposts, Contingents & Camps
!Base
!Zone
!Stations, Outposts, Contingents & Camps
!Base
!Zone
!Stations, Outposts, Contingents & Camps
!Base
!Zone
!Stations, Outposts, Contingents & Camps
!Base
!Zone
|-
|Teknaf
| rowspan="20" |Iachanagar, Karnaphuli, Chattogram
| rowspan="20" |East
|Sharankhola
| rowspan="20" |Digraj, Mongla, Bagerhat
| rowspan="20" |West
|Nizampur
| rowspan="20" |Char Kali, Bhola
| rowspan="20" |South
|Pagla
| rowspan="20" |Dhaka
| rowspan="20" |Dhaka
|-
|Inani
|Supati
|Patharghata
|Mawa
|-
|Saint Martins
|Koyra
|Patuakhali
|Chandpur
|-
|Himchhari
|Kapilmuni
|Hatia
|Padma Bridge Composit Project
|-
|Cox's Bazar
|Kachikhali
|Lakshmipur
|Haimchar
|-
|Matarbari
|Rupsha
|Nidrasakina
|Gajaria
|-
|Kutubdia
|Dubla
|Barishal
|Nayani
|-
|Maheshkhali
|Koikhali
|Hijla
|Mohanpur
|-
|Sangu
|Dobeki
|Kaliganj
|Paturia
|-
|Mirsarai
|Harbaria
|Andarmanik
|Mill Barrack
|-
|Bhatiari
|Kagadobeki
|Ramgati
|
|-
|Urir Char
|Nalian
|Tazumuddin
|
|-
|Shahpori
|
|Char Manika
|
|-
|Sandwip
|
|Rangabali
|
|-
|Patenga
|
|Manpura
|
|-
|Sarikait
|
|
|
|-
|Baharchhara
|
|
|
|-
|Bhashanchar
|
|
|
|-
|Raypur
|
|
|
|-
|Kamalnagar
|
|
|
|}

==Command and control==
=== Headquarters ===
{| class="wikitable" style="width:95%; margin:0 auto;"
|-
! style="background:#ccc;"|Appointment
! style="background:#ccc;"|Rank and Name
|-
|  Director General
|| Rear Admiral Md Ziaul Hoque OSP, afwc ndc, psc
|-
||  Deputy Director-General  || Commodore Md. Rashed Sattar, (N), NUP, psc, BN
|-
||  Director (Operations)   || Captain Mohammad Saiful Islam, (TAS), afwc, psc, BN
|-
||  Director (Intelligence)  ||  Captain Al Farooq Mahmud Hossain, (N), NUP, afwc, psc, BN
|-
||  Director (Personnel)  || Captain Al Farooq Mahmud Hossain, (N), NUP, afwc, psc, BN
|-
||  Director (Engineering)  || Captain Riyadh Ibne Jamal, (E), NGP, psc, BN
|-
||  Director (Logistics)  || Captain Mohammad Habibul Billah, (s), psc, BN
|-
||  Director (IT & Communications)  || Captain Mohammad Shahidul Haque, (H1), psc, BN
|-
||  Director (Planning & Acquisitions)  ||Captain Md Sohel Azam, (G), NUP, ncc, psc, BN
|-
||  Judge Advocate General  || Commander Abu Sadik Mohammed Shafiq Uddin, (Edn), BCGMS, BN
|-
|| Chief Inspector and Quality Controller || Commander Md Abu Bakar, (L), PCGMS, BN
|-
|}

===Zonal commands===
{| class="wikitable" style="width:95%; margin:0 auto;"
|-
! style="background:#ccc;"|Appointment
! style="background:#ccc;"|Rank and Name
|-
|| Zonal Commander (Dhaka Zone) ||Commander M Mostafijur Rahman, (ND), BCGM, psc, BN
|-
|| Zonal Commander (East Zone) || Captain Md Zahirul Haque, (C), BCGMS, psc, BN
|-
|| Zonal Commander (West Zone) || Captain Faiz Uddin Ahmed, (N), BCGM, psc, BN
|-
|| Zonal Commander (South Zone) || Captain Mohammed Shahin Mazid, (G), psc, BN
|}

===Training Base BCG Agrajatra===
{| class="wikitable" style="width:95%; margin:0 auto;"
|-
! style="background:#ccc;"|Appointment
! style="background:#ccc;"|Rank and Name
|-
|| Commandant || Captain Shahjahan Seraj, (G), psc, BN
|-
|}

===Rank structure===
;Commissioned officers
{| style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background-color:#f7f8ff; padding:5px; font-size:95%; margin: 0px 12px 12px 0px;"
{{Ranks and Insignia of Non NATO Armed Forces/OF/Blank}}
{{Ranks and Insignia of Non NATO Navies/OF/Bangladesh (Coast Guard)}}
|}

;Other ranks
{| style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background-color:#f7f8ff; padding:5px; font-size:95%; margin: 0px 12px 12px 0px;"
{{Ranks and Insignia of Indian forces/OR/Blank}}
{{Ranks and Insignia of Non NATO Navies/OR/Bangladesh (Coast Guard)}}
|}

=== Medals ===

* Bangladesh Coast Guard Padak (Bravery)
* President Coast Guard Padak (Bravery)
* Bangladesh Coast Guard Padak (Service)
* President Coast Guard Padak (Service)

Source:<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bangladesh Coast Guard |title=Medal gallery of Bangladesh Coast Guard |url=https://coastguard.portal.gov.bd/sites/default/files/files/coastguard.portal.gov.bd/page/bc3c384a_a95e_4f28_b14d_bccfdf63a2e7/2022-02-16-06-15-52acddf783446e3376ba93d34dedf6cd.pdf}}</ref>

==List of Directors General==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! No || Name || Took office || Left office
|-
|1
|Commodore [[Shafiq-ur-Rahman]], (N), ncc, psc, BN
| 22 February 1995
|  6 August 1998
|-
|2
| Captain M A Motalib, (G), ndu, psc, BN
| 7 August 1998
| 28 April 1999
|-
|3
| Commodore M Shahabuddin, (E), psc, BN
| 29 April 1999
| 29 January 2002
|-
|4
| Commodore [[Shah Iqbal Mujtaba]], (D), ndc, psc, BN
| 29 January 2002
| 29 May 2002
|-
|5
| Captain S M H Kabir, ndu, psc, BN
| 29 May 2002
| 5 March 2005
|-
|6
| Rear Admiral [[Sarwar Jahan Nizam|Sarwar Jahan Nijam]], (C), ndu, psc, BN
| 6 March 2005
| 8 February 2007
|-
|7
| Commodore M A K Azad, (G), ndc, psc, BN
| 8 February 2007
| 5 January 2008
|-
|8
| Commodore Moqsum Ul Kader (C) ndc, afwc, psc, BN
| 6 January 2008
| 25 January 2009
|-
|9
| Rear Admiral [[Zahir Uddin Ahmed|Z U Ahmed]], NBP, BCGM, ndc, psc, BN
| 26 January 2009
| 27 January 2009
|-
|10
| Commodore Moqsum Ul Kader, (C), ndc, afwc, psc, BN
| 27 January 2009
| 23 March 2009
|-
|11
| Commodore A S M A Abedin (E)ndc, psc, BN
| 23 March 2009
| 31 March 2011
|-
|12
| Rear Admiral [[Kazi Sarwar Hossain]], (TAS), (CD), ncc, psc, BN
| 1 April 2011
| 16 December 2013
|-
|13
| Rear Admiral [[M Makbul Hossain]], NBP, OSP, BCGMS, ndu, psc, BN
| 4 December 2013
| 15 February 2016
|-
|14
| Rear Admiral [[Aurangzeb Chowdhury]], (G), NBP, OSP, BCGM, PCGM, BCGMS, ndc, psc, BN
| 16 February 2016
| 26 January 2019
|-
|15
| Rear Admiral [[M Ashraful Haq]], (C), NUP, ndc, afwc, psc, BN
| 10 February 2019
| 24 August 2021
|-
|16
| Rear Admiral [[Ashraful Hoq Chowdhury]]
| 24 August 2021
| 30 January 2024
|-
|17
|Rear Admiral [[Mir Ershad Ali]]
|30 January 2024
|31 October 2024
|-
|18
|Rear Admiral [[Md. Ziaul Hoque]]
|31 October ber 2024
|Present
|}

==Ships==
[[File:Coast Guard Ship (Bangladesh).jpg|thumbnail|[[Minerva-class corvette#Leader-class offshore patrol vessel|Leader-class]] offshore patrol vessel, built in Italy]]
[[File:P 202 CGS Shobuj Bangla. (38362795112).jpg|thumbnail|{{sclass|Sobuj Bangla|patrol craft|1}}, built by [[Dockyard and Engineering Works Limited|DEW]], [[Narayanganj]],
Bangladesh.]]
{{Main|List of ships of the Bangladesh Coast Guard}}
{| class="wikitable" style="width:75%;"
! style="text-align:left; width:15%;"|Type
! style="text-align:left; width:10%;"|Quantity
! style="text-align:left; width:15%;"|Note
|-
||Offshore patrol vessel||4||
|-
||Inshore patrol vessel||8||
|-
||Fast attack craft (gun)||4||
|-
||Coastal patrol craft||4||
|-
||Riverine patrol craft||5||
|-
||Harbour patrol boat||6||
|-
||High speed patrol boat||136||
|}

==Future Modernization Plan==
The Bangladesh Government has started a massive modernization plan named [[Coast Guard Goal 2030]] to make Coast Guard a well-trained and well-equipped force to ensure the security of the coastal area. The expansion of the force manpower is also included in the plan.<ref name="thedailystar.net"/><ref>{{cite web |date=10 March 2024 |title=Coast Guard to be transformed into three dimensional force: PM Hasina |url=https://www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/coast-guard-be-transformed-three-dimensional-force-pm-hasina-806566 |access-date=5 August 2024 |website=[[The Business Standard]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=21 June 2023 |title=PM Hasina: Coast Guard to be built as a modern force |url=https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/313977/pm-hasina-coast-guard-to-be-built-as-a-modern |access-date=5 August 2024 |website=[[Dhaka Tribune]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=10 March 2024 |title=Coast Guard to be transformed into three dimensional force, says PM |url=https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/national/coast-guard-to-be-transformed-into-three-dimensional-force-says-pm |access-date=5 August 2024 |website=[[The Financial Express (Bangladesh)|The Financial Express]]}}</ref>

[[Dockyard and Engineering Works Limited]] is constructing two inshore patrol vessels (IPV) for the ''Bangladesh Coast Guard''. These vessels will be {{convert|52.8|m|ftin|sp=us}} long, {{cvt|7.4|m|ftin}} wide and have a [[Draft (hull)|draft]] of {{cvt|4.5|m|ftin}} with a [[Displacement (ship)|displacement]] of {{convert|315|MT|LT|lk=on}}.

The coast guard ordered six X12 high-speed boats which are being built at Dockyard and Engineering Works Limited with technical assistance from [[Indonesia]]. These ships are made of [[carbon composite]] and have a length of {{convert|11.7|m|ftin}} and a speed of {{convert|35|kn|lk=in}}.

In October 2021, The ''Bangladesh Coast Guard'' has ordered undisclosed number of Turkish-made Ares 150 Hercules offshore patrol vessels.<ref>{{Cite web|date=17 October 2021|title=Bangladesh Coast Guard has ordered Turkish-made ARES 150 HERCULES OPVs Offshore Patrol Vessels|url=https://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php/naval-news/naval-news-archive/2021/october/10861-bangladesh-coast-guard-has-ordered-turkish-made-ares-150-hercules-opvs-offshore-patrol-vessels.html|publisher=Navy Recognition}}</ref>

The formation of the coast guard's aviation wing is under process. The force has a plan to procure ten [[helicopter]]s for patrolling and [[search and rescue]] (SAR) operations within 2025.<ref name="abc">{{cite news |date=30 June 2016 |title=Increasing the Coast Guard's capacity |url=http://www.theindependentbd.com/printversion/details/49694 |access-date=9 July 2017 |work=[[The Independent (Bangladesh)|The Independent]] |location=[[Dhaka]]}}</ref>

The coast guard also wants to be a technologically advanced outfit in monitoring the sea. It has a long-term plan of installing [[Long-range identification and tracking (ships)|long-range identification and tracking (LRIT)]] and vessel traffic management information systems (VTMIS) by 2025.<ref name="abc"/>

==References==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* [http://www.coastguard.gov.bd Bangladesh Coast Guard Website]

{{Bangladesh topics}}
{{Coast guards}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Bangladesh Coast Guard| ]]
[[Category:1995 establishments in Bangladesh]]
[[Category:Coast guards]]
[[Category:Law enforcement in Bangladesh]]
[[Category:Paramilitary forces of Bangladesh]]
[[Category:Government agencies of Bangladesh]]
[[Category:Uniformed services of Bangladesh]]