Dhaka, Oct. 4 -- The number of national flag carrier oceangoing ships is increasing in transportation of goods by sea, which help save the country's forex reserve as the Bangladeshi traders have to spend over $9 billion annually as freight charges for export and import purposes.

The total number of oceangoing ships carrying Bangladeshi flag has reached 90 and the number will be 100 by December, sources in the Department of Shipping (DoS) told The New Nation on Monday.

According to sources, the government has exempted tax in a bid to earn foreign currency $3 billion to $4 billion a year by Bangladeshi flagged oceangoing ships.

New oceangoing ships are being added to the national flag carrier fleet day by day due to the government's poli...