Dhaka, Oct. 30 -- One of the two newly purchased bulk carriers of Bangladesh Shipping Corporation (BSC) has begun its maiden commercial voyage on October 27, marking a major step in expanding the state-owned company's fleet to six vessels after seven years.

BSC officially received the 199-metre-long MV Banglar Progoti from US-based Hellenic Dry Bulk Ventures LLC in London earlier this week and took physical delivery at China's Nanyang Shipyard on October 23. The vessel, with a 63,500-deadweight-ton capacity, was chartered to Hong Kong-based LTE Shipping at a daily rate of USD 20,000 for an initial three-month period.

The ship departed from Jingjiang International Jetty in China, heading to Zhoushan for bunkering before proceeding to its...