Constitution and Formation

The Bangladesh Mariners Council (BMC) was established with the mission to unite maritime professionals across Bangladesh under a common platform. Our constitution serves as the foundational framework guiding our operations, values and objectives. It outlines the rules, regulations and governance structures that ensure the effective management of the council and the active participation of all members. The formation of BMC is rooted in principles of transparency, integrity and the shared vision of elevating the maritime industry in Bangladesh. This page details the organizational structure, guiding policies and key principles that define the BMC and its governance.

Board Meeting Policies

1. Meeting Schedule and Frequency

Regular board meetings shall be held quarterly, with special meetings scheduled as needed.
The schedule for the year’s meetings will be established at the beginning of each calendar year.

2. Notice of Meetings

All board members shall receive written notice of meetings at least 7 days in advance, including the agenda and relevant documents.
Emergency meetings may be called with a minimum of 24 hours’ notice.

3. Quorum Requirements

A quorum for the meeting shall be a simple majority (50% + 1) of the board members.
If a quorum is not present, the meeting may be adjourned and rescheduled.

4. Agenda and Documentation

The agenda must be prepared by the secretary and approved by the chairman before being circulated.
Board members may request agenda items at least 5 days prior to the meeting.

5. Decision-Making and Voting

Decisions are made based on a majority vote among present members.
Each board member has one vote; in case of a tie, the chairman has the deciding vote.
Voting can be conducted in person, by proxy, or electronically if agreed upon.

6. Confidentiality

All discussions, documents and decisions within board meetings are strictly confidential.
Board members must adhere to confidentiality agreements and avoid sharing sensitive information outside the board.

7. Attendance and Participation

Board members are expected to attend all meetings unless a valid reason is provided in advance.
Consistent absence without valid reason may result in disciplinary action.

8. Record Keeping

Minutes of each meeting must be accurately recorded and distributed within 7 days of the meeting.
Minutes should include key discussions, decisions made and action points.

9. Conflict of Interest

Board members must disclose any conflict of interest related to agenda items and recuse themselves from related discussions or voting.

10. Code of Conduct

All board members must conduct themselves professionally, respecting the views and contributions of others.
Disruptive behavior or violation of the meeting decorum will not be tolerated.

Roles and Responsibilities of Executive Members

President:

The President must be a resident of Bangladesh.
Anyone aspiring to become President, along with their children, cannot move or migrate abroad.
The President must disclose all permanent, non-permanent and movable assets.
The candidate must have no political affiliations or current involvement in political activities.
A candidate with a history of violence, religious intolerance, or anti-national activities is ineligible for the presidency.
The President must actively support and promote the Mariners’ mission and objectives.
The President cannot use the position for personal promotion or self-benefit.
The candidate must have a marine background.
The President is prohibited from leveraging their professional qualifications for personal gain.
The President must demonstrate dedication and commitment to the community through actions, not just words.
The President must possess relevant experience and qualifications, while ensuring fairness, equal opportunity and consistent standards for all members.

Vice Presidents:

Support the President in fulfilling their duties and step in during the President’s absence.
Lead specific committees or initiatives as assigned by the President.
Assist in the coordination of events, programs and activities organized by BMC.
Provide guidance and oversight in areas such as membership growth, policy development and community outreach.
Collaborate with other executive members to implement BMC’s goals and objectives.

General Secretary:

Manage the day-to-day operations and administration of BMC.
Organize and coordinate board meetings, including agenda preparation and minutes recording.
Maintain official records, documents and correspondence of the council.
Communicate important updates and decisions to all members.
Oversee membership management, including registrations, renewals and member communications.
Ensure compliance with BMC’s policies, procedures and regulations.

Assistant General Secretary:

Assist the General Secretary in managing administrative tasks and responsibilities.
Take over the duties of the General Secretary in their absence.
Help in organizing events, meetings and activities.
Maintain accurate records and ensure that all necessary documents are up to date.
Provide support in managing member relations and communications.
Assist in preparing reports, presentations and other materials for council meetings.

Joint Secretary:

Assist the General Secretary in performing administrative duties.
Take charge in the absence of the General Secretary.
Coordinate communication between different departments within the council.
Help organize meetings and events, ensuring smooth execution.
Oversee special projects or tasks as assigned by the General Secretary or President.

Treasurer:

Manage the financial operations of the council, including budgeting, accounting and financial reporting.
Maintain accurate records of all transactions and ensure transparency in financial matters.
Prepare financial statements and present them during council meetings.
Oversee the collection of membership fees and other contributions.
Ensure proper allocation and utilization of funds according to council objectives.

Organizing Secretary:

Plan, coordinate and oversee events, meetings and programs organized by the council.
Manage logistics for events, including venue selection, scheduling and resource allocation.
Work with other secretaries and members to ensure successful execution of all council activities.
Develop and maintain relationships with vendors and service providers for event-related needs.

P.R & Welfare Secretary:

Handle public relations activities to promote the council and its initiatives.
Maintain positive relationships with stakeholders, including members, media and the maritime community.
Coordinate welfare programs and initiatives that support council members in times of need.
Develop strategies to enhance the council’s public image and outreach efforts.

Cultural Secretary:

Plan and organize cultural events and programs for council members and their families.
Promote the preservation and celebration of maritime heritage and culture.
Engage members in recreational activities, competitions and entertainment events.
Coordinate with external cultural organizations for collaborative initiatives.
Foster a sense of unity and belonging through social and cultural engagement.

Office Secretary:

Oversee the daily operations and management of the council’s office.
Ensure that all necessary office supplies, equipment and resources are available and well-maintained.
Assist in the preparation and distribution of official documents, notices and meeting agendas.
Keep records and archives of important documents, minutes and communications.
Provide administrative support to executive members and handle routine correspondence.

Executive Members:

Actively participate in council meetings, discussions and decision-making processes.
Provide input and support for council initiatives, programs and events.
Represent the interests of the members and communicate their feedback to the executive committee.
Assist in implementing council policies and strategies.
Take on specific tasks or roles as assigned by the President or other executive officers.

Aims & Objects of the Association:

To promote, develop and safeguard the interests of all Mariners involved with the BMC.
To promote co-operation, collaboration and mutual understanding among the members of the association engaged in BMC.
To advocate for the rights, welfare and fair treatment of the Mariners.
Foster a culture of integrity, ethical behavior and accountability in maritime activities.
Influence industry standards through collaboration with stakeholders and regulatory bodies.
Increase visibility and recognition of Bangladeshi Mariners nationally and internationally.
To develop safety culture especially behavior based safety among sea farers community including the international and territorial waters relating to their professional work and social responsibilities.
To engage in discussions with Bangladeshi international seafarers and their families, ensuring they do not voluntarily or unlawfully leave their jobs to exile abroad.
To eliminate the discriminatory behaviors among all seafarers among the world either on their religion, origin, color or gender.
To establish and preserve the rights of seafarers with equity.
Build a strong, collaborative maritime community in Bangladesh.
Foster global collaboration and facilitate the exchange of career-oriented knowledge with international maritime sectors.
To ensure fair wages and satisfactory working conditions for the cadets, officers and crews directly or indirectly involved with the BMC to ensure their social security and economic wellbeing and to create in them an awareness of their social responsibility.
To protect all kinds of rights including visa issue, other accommodations, negotiate, correspond, bargain, contract, co-operate, collaborate and do all other necessary deals with individual, firms companies, autonomous bodies, quasi-government bodies or any other institution, organization or body established either within Bangladesh or outside
To promote and encourage mariners to remit funds to the country through legal channels.
To make representation and to send communications to render assistance, information, advice and act in co-operation with the Government or other local authorities, or statutory body or authority or BMC and Industry or any association or any commercial or public body, for promotion of any matter relating or affecting directly or indirectly BMC in particular and trade, commerce and industry of Bangladesh in general.
To arbitrate in a dispute or differences arising between or among the members of this Association, between Manning agents and members, when requested to do so in all matters which may be referred to this Association by members involved in such disputes or differences between or among themselves.
To collect funds for the Association, donation and by any other lawful means and to accept any requests, gifts, donation and endowments, either conditionally or unconditionally from the members of the Association or any other person or persons.
To borrow any interest-free money and establish funds or endowments for the attainment and furtherance of the objects of the Association.
To lend, invest, advance, subscribe, donate, grant or distribute by any other lawful means the money of the Association to a member of the Association either conditionally or unconditionally for the development of members access funding opportunities, including interest-free loans, grants and financial services.
Members from equivalent batches can recommend or refer elder or junior brothers for BMC membership, fostering a stronger sense of community and continuity within the organization.
To deposit any money or securities in the name of the Association with any bank and to withdraw the same from time to time.
To invest the money of the Association in promissory sectors, community welfare and interest-free loan granted by the Government of Bangladesh.
To grant affiliation to the societies or associations or trade group in Bangladesh having similar or allied aims and objects of this Association.
To eliminate unhealthy competition and rivalry between the members of the Association.
To secure representation on Government committees, public bodies or any other Quasi-Government Bodies those lines of reference are of interest to the members of the Association.
To reduce carbon emissions and support oxygen generation on both global and national scales, we will actively promote and implement effective, legal methods for upcycling all types of waste. Our efforts aim to contribute to cleaner cities, seas and environments, thereby advancing sustainability and environmental health
BMC will assist cadets in securing fair job-related opportunities by facilitating discussions with relevant organizations and maintaining priority in job placement. If necessary, BMC will also engage with the government to seek additional support for cadet employment. Additionally, upon their return to the country, BMC will organize job circulars and actively source various career opportunities for cadets.

ELECTION OF OFFICE-BEARERS

The election of office bearers shall be held by secret ballot before the annual General Meeting. The results shall be announced at the Annual General Meeting of the Association.
Establish clear criteria for identifying and selecting representatives, ensuring that candidates meet the necessary qualifications, experience and commitment to effectively serve the BMC and its members.
Termination of any executive bodies including president: If the 90 percent members of this council undestitute with any one of the executive bodies including the president then within one month of such kind of incident the voting is to held in order to understudy the executive member.
When both the President and the Executive Committee are elected at the same time, the interval between these elections should be no less than three months and no more than six months.
To be eligible for election, a member must have held at least one year of continuous membership in the Bangladesh Mariners Council (BMC).
The election for the Vice President and other positions will be determined by the number of votes received, with the positions being filled in order of the highest to lowest votes (e.g., 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc.).
If a position within the Executive Committee becomes vacant, the remaining members of the committee have the authority to appoint a qualified individual to fill the vacancy. This appointment will be temporary and will remain in effect until the next regular election.
All members of the Executive Committee of the Association shall be deemed to have retired from their respective offices upon completion of their tenure.
The members of the Executive Committee shall be elected bi-annually other than President. A President election will be held in 3 years interval.
Casual vacancies of Executive Members shall be filled by co-option by the Executive Committee from among the Members of the Association. Vacancies of the President, Senior and Vice-President, General Secretary shall be filled by the Executive Committee through election from among its existing Members and the resultant vacancies of the Members shall be filled by co-option.
The names of Office-Bearers of the Committee for the ensuing year shall be announced at the Annual General Meeting and the new Committee shall take office from the outgoing Committee at that Annual General Meeting.
Omission to send any notice, nomination or ballot papers to any member shall not invalidate the ballot or election, provided that such omission cannot be proved to have materially affect the results of any such ballot or election.
The candidate who receives the largest number of valid votes shall be deemed to have been duly elected.
In the event of equality of votes between two or more members, the decision shall be by lot and the member in whose favor the lot is drawn shall – be declared duly elected.
Not more than one representative of any member shall be eligible to stand for election of the Committee.
No member, who has not paid his subscription before the election takes place or who has not been enrolled at least three months before the date of election shall be eligible to nominate or stand for election or vote. Pre-vided that the restriction of three months shall not apply in the case of the first election to be held after incorporation of the Association.
Members associated with Manning Agencies cannot serve as Executive Committee members of BMC.
Every member of the Association shall be entitled to cast one vote only for each vacancy in the Committee.

BOARD MEETING POLICIES

Regular board meetings shall be held quarterly. Special meetings may be scheduled as needed. If an Executive Committee (EC) member is physically present in Bangladesh, they must attend in person; however, if they are abroad, they may participate virtually.
The schedule for the year’s meetings will be established at the beginning of each calendar year.
All board members shall receive written notice of meetings at least 7 days in advance, including the agenda and relevant documents.
Emergency meetings may be called with a minimum of 24 hours’ notice.
A quorum for the meeting shall be a simple majority (50% + 1) of the board members.
If a quorum is not present at a meeting, the meeting may be adjourned and rescheduled. Alternatively, virtual attendance may be counted towards the quorum, subject to the decision of the Executive Committee.
The agenda must be prepared by the general secretary and approved by the president before being circulated.
Board members may request agenda items at least 3 days prior to the meeting.
Decisions are made based on a majority vote among present members.
Each board member has one vote; in case of a tie, the president has the deciding vote.
Voting can be conducted in person, by proxy, or electronically if agreed upon.
All discussions, documents and decisions within board meetings are strictly confidential.
Board members must adhere to confidentiality agreements and avoid sharing sensitive information outside the board.
Board members are expected to attend all meetings unless a valid reason is provided in advance.
Consistent absence without valid reason may result in disciplinary action.
Minutes of each meeting must be accurately recorded and distributed within 7 days of the meeting.
Minutes should include key discussions, decisions made and action points.
Board members must disclose any conflict of interest related to agenda items and recuse themselves from related discussions or voting.
All board members must conduct themselves professionally, respecting the views and contributions of others.
Disruptive behavior or violation of the meeting decorum will not be tolerated