Explore
Institutions
Bank Watch: scheduled banks tracked on stability metrics.
Parliament Watch: members and their activity.
University Watch: the higher-education system, tracked.
NGO Watch: civil society and development NGOs, tracked.
Development Partner Watch: the donors, tracked.
Industry Association Watch: the apex chambers, tracked.
Early warning
The Crisis Orb: a live, level-anchored hazard board.
The LDC 2029 graduation monitor.
The national early-warning board across hazards.
Early warning for the haor flood basin.
The multi-hazard exposure atlas, by district.
Where hazards compound across the same places.
A priority index ranking places by combined risk.
Cropland exposed to flood, heat, and salinity.
The bank distress watch: stress signals across banks.
The disaster ledger: events and losses over time.
Government Watch
department
The department is focused on modernizing maritime safety and operational transparency by transitioning to digital management systems for vessel allocation and seafarer certification.
DG Commodore Md. Shafiul Bari inspected training facilities at the MAS Marine Academy.
DOS issued a notice for Merchant Marine and Fishing Vessel Deck Officer oral examinations.
A mobile court fined nine sand-carrying vessels for safety violations.
DOS published tenders for the auction of infrastructure materials and procurement of printing supplies.
DOS published a tender for docking and repair works of a pontoon.
DOS published multiple tenders for office equipment procurement and pontoon repairs.
DOS was formed in 1976 by merging the Directorate of Shipping and the Controller of Shipping; the principal legislation at formation was the Bangladesh Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1983 (enacted after DOS existed, consolidating maritime administration), now replaced by the Bangladesh Merchant Shipping Act 2020. The Director General is customarily a serving Commodore of the Bangladesh Navy on deputation; Commodore Md. Shafiul Bari (ND), ndc, psc, BN is the current DG, confirmed in post from at least August 7, 2025 (BMTI visit) through May 10, 2026 (Maritime Safety Week); exact appointment date not publicly available from sources consulted. A previous DG, Commodore Mohammad Maksud Alam, is referenced in 2024 sources. Bangladesh STCW certification is on the IMO White List and recognised by the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA), meaning foreign flag states may endorse Bangladesh Certificates of Competency; over 21,000 Bangladeshi seafarers serve in the global merchant fleet (cited by Shipping Adviser at IMO General Assembly, 24 November 2025). Bangladesh's national flag fleet stood at approximately 95-97 oceangoing vessels as of mid-2023, with the Registrar of Bangladesh Ships at Chittagong being the principal registration officer under the Director General. Bangladesh lost its IMO Council Category C seat at the 34th IMO Assembly election on 28 November 2025, replaced by Belgium, Nigeria, and South Africa; DOS and MoS had campaigned for re-election, with DG Shafiul Bari making presentations at diplomatic receptions including in London. annual_budget_bdt and staff_count are null: DOS departmental budget is not separately published in MoF's publicly accessible budget portal documents reviewed; it falls within the Ministry of Shipping aggregate. head_since is given as 2025-08-07, the earliest confirmed date of DG Shafiul Bari in post (BMTI visit article); the actual appointment notification date is not available from public sources.