‘Bangladesh Maritime University‘, in short Maritime University or BMU, is Bangladesh's 37th public university. It is a specialised maritime university run by the Bangladesh Navy. Because it is a specialised university, only maritime subjects are taught here. It is Bangladesh's first and only maritime university, and it is also the world's 13th and Asia's 3rd maritime university.
About Bangladesh Maritime University
At present the academic work of Bangladesh Maritime University is carried out at a temporary campus at Mirpur 12 (Pallabi) in Dhaka. Formal construction of the university's permanent campus is under way on 106.6 acres at Hamidchar in Chattogram, along the bank of the Karnaphuli river, at a cost of about 1,184 crore taka. Beyond this, a special campus on St Martin's Island is being planned for research.
A video of Bangladesh Maritime University's permanent campus:
Why study at Bangladesh Maritime University?
This is the country's only dedicated university for studying maritime subjects. So if your dream is to work somewhere in the maritime field, Maritime University is the best place for you. Although there is scope to study various maritime subjects in many other places, because all departments are mixed together there you will not find a study environment as focused on the sea as this one. The lab facilities for these subjects are also very good here. Alongside that you will get the chance to do a great deal of fieldwork — hands-on work in a real environment.
The faculties and departments of Bangladesh Maritime University
There are 38 departments under 7 proposed faculties. Not all of them have started work yet; they will become operational after the move to the permanent campus. The faculties and departments are:
- Faculty of Earth and Ocean Science Oceanography and Hydrography Marine Fisheries and Aquaculture Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Marine Biology* Mining* Environment Studies*
- Faculty of Engineering and Technology Naval Architecture and Offshore Engineering Marine Engineering Ocean Engineering* Electrical and Electronic Engineering* Telecommunication Engineering* Harbour and River Engineering* Control Engineering and Mechatronics*
- Faculty of Marine Governance and Policy Maritime Law and Policy Maritime Security and Strategic Studies Maritime Safety Administration*
- Faculty of Shipping Administration Port and Shipping Management Transportation and Logistics Management* Maritime Science
- Faculty of Computer Science and Informatics* Computer Science and Information Technology* Software and Network Engineering* Information System Security*
- Faculty of Maritime Business Studies Accounting and Information Systems Management Finance* Marketing* Economics* Maritime Tourism and Hospitality Management
- Faculty of General Studies Bengali English Mathematics Physics Chemistry Biochemistry Social Science and Anthropology* Material Science* International Relations* History* Land Administration and Water Management*
The faculties and departments marked “*” have not yet started.
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The institutes of Bangladesh Maritime University
The university currently has 4 institutes. They are:
- Institute of Bengal and Bangladesh Studies
- Institute of Professional Language
- Institute of Renewable Energy and Marine Resources
- Institute of Disaster Management
The academic programmes currently running at Bangladesh Maritime University
Undergraduate (honours) programmes
- Bachelor of Science in Marine Fisheries
- Bachelor of Science in Oceanography
- Bachelor of Science in Naval Architecture and Offshore Engineering
- Bachelor of Laws in Maritime Law
- Bachelor of Business Administration in Port Management and Logistics
Postgraduate programmes
- Master in Marine Biotechnology
- Master in Maritime Science
- Master of Laws in Maritime Law
- Master in Oceanography
- Master of Science in Coastal and River Engineering
- Master in Port and Shipping Management
- Master of Business Administration in Maritime Business
- Master of Business Administration in Maritime Tourism and Hospitality Management
- Master in Maritime Development and Strategic Studies
The lab facilities of Bangladesh Maritime University
Although Maritime University is new, the laboratory facilities here are quite good. It is certainly not that they are ample, but as a new university it does have good lab provision. Alongside that, the number of labs grows every year, as does the lab equipment. It can be hoped that within a few years it will reach an ample state on the lab side.
Postgraduate Research Management and Technology Transfer Centre, Bangladesh Maritime University
This research centre has been built for research at MPhil and PhD level. For the moment the university's postgraduate research and its MPhil and PhD programmes are run through this one centre.
Read more: Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology Review
The hall facilities of Bangladesh Maritime University
Bangladesh Maritime University currently has 2 residential halls for students to live in. They are:
- Male wing
- Female wing
The two halls are located in Mirpur DOHS. The living and study environment in the halls is quite pleasant.
Other facilities at Bangladesh Maritime University
Student–teacher relations at Bangladesh Maritime University
There are very good relations between the students and teachers of Bangladesh Maritime University. The teachers here behave in a very friendly way. Because the teacher-student ratio is low, the teachers can take good care of the students.
The library of Bangladesh Maritime University
Bangladesh Maritime University has several excellent libraries. The central library has ample books for all students. Alongside books there are daily newspapers, magazines and other journals. There are also separate libraries for each faculty and institute. Beyond these there are two more libraries, at the Bangabandhu Corner and the Liberation War Corner.
The libraries are very nicely arranged and there is an excellent environment for study.
The transport of Bangladesh Maritime University
For non-residential students, transport is provided by 4 buses and 2 coasters, which run on various routes in Dhaka 5 days a week.
The teacher-student ratio at Bangladesh Maritime University
The teacher-student ratio at Bangladesh Maritime University is of a very high standard. There is 1 teacher for every 10 to 14 students.
Bangladesh Maritime University's cafeteria
The university has 2 cafeterias. Both are kept extremely clean, tidy and pleasant. Food is available at affordable prices in the cafeterias, and there is television provision there.
A student life free of session jams at Bangladesh Maritime University
Where session jams are a very common matter at public universities, there has never been any problem of session jam at Bangladesh Maritime University. So you can readily come out with an undergraduate degree in 4 years.
The auditorium of Bangladesh Maritime University
The university has a small auditorium, located in the Meghna building. Although the auditorium is small in size, it is adequate given the number of students.
The senate building of Bangladesh Maritime University
Because Bangladesh Maritime University is an autonomous institution, it has a senate system for setting policy. As the campus is temporary, there is not yet a separate building for it. There is, however, a plan for a handsome senate building on the main campus.
Sport and recreation at Bangladesh Maritime University
Because the campus is temporary, Maritime University has no central field for sport. For indoor games, though, three common rooms provide many kinds of sport and recreation: table tennis, carrom, chess and various other indoor games.
Even without a field of its own, various sports and competitions are arranged — cricket, football, badminton and so on. Beyond this there is a cultural club for recreation. Every common room and canteen has television provision.
The medical centre of Bangladesh Maritime University
Maritime University has its own medical centre for its students. One doctor and three officers provide various kinds of health service there, and medicine is also given to patients according to their problem. The university also has an ambulance of its own for emergency service.
The standard of education at Bangladesh Maritime University
Because Bangladesh Maritime University is entirely new, it has not yet been able to make very large advances in teaching and research. The temporary campus is also a big obstacle to research work. Even so, the teachers are quite active in research.
Bangladesh Maritime University campus life
Campus life at Bangladesh Maritime University may not be extravagantly grand, but it is quite good. Various events are arranged on campus all year round. Pohela Boishakh, International Mother Language Day, Independence Day, Victory Day, 7 March and various other national days are observed with ceremony.
Beyond this the university arranges an annual excursion, inter-departmental competitions, inter-hall competitions and many sports. And of course there are the various events and competitions of the different clubs and organisations!
The clubs of Bangladesh Maritime University
Despite being a new university, it has a good number of clubs, societies and organisations. They are:
- Cultural Club
- Science Club
- Photographic Society
- Hiking Club
- Business and Career Club
- Research Society
- Sports Club
- Debate and Language Club
- Chess Club
- Marine Fisheries Chess Community
- Higher Study Club
- YouthMappers at BMU
- Bibliomaniac Community
The memorials of Bangladesh Maritime University
Maritime University has two corners dedicated to the country's history and to the memory of Bangabandhu. They are:
- Bangabandhu Corner This corner was established in memory of Bangabandhu. The corner has seating and a small library with a good number of books. Books written by Bangabandhu and books written about him have their place here. This corner is located in the Meghna building.
- Liberation War Corner This corner was built in memory of the great Liberation War of 1971. The corner has seating and a small library with a good number of books. Books on Bangabandhu and the Liberation War have their place here. The corner was built on the occasion of Mujib Year. It is located in the Padma building.
The admission process and preparation for Bangladesh Maritime University
The admission test of Bangladesh Maritime University is quite different from those of other universities. Because the number of seats is small, there are a great many candidates per seat. It has not taken part in the cluster admission test, so it holds its own admission test independently. Tests are held for undergraduate entry in four faculties in all. The test usually has 60 marks of multiple-choice questions and 40 marks of written questions. Beyond this there are 100 marks on the results (GPA) of the secondary (SSC) and higher secondary (HSC) examinations. The merit list is prepared on the basis of 200 marks in total.
To learn in detail about the admission test of Bangladesh Maritime University, click this link।
Final words
If you have an interest in maritime study, Bangladesh Maritime University could be the best opportunity for you. The blue economy — you yourself can play a part in advancing it and taking Bangladesh forward! Join the maritime family and take on a blue identity!
Muhammad Ashraful Alam Shemul
BS in Marine Fisheries (1st batch, 2019–20) Department of Marine Fisheries and Aquaculture Bangladesh Maritime University, Bangladesh
