, Dec. 17 -- Bangladesh Shipping Corporation (BSC), the state-owned maritime operator, is preparing a landmark plan to procure 22 mother vessels worth Tk 10,000 crore, aiming to strengthen the nation's control over seaborne foreign trade.

If implemented over the next five years, the initiative will significantly expand the presence of Bangladeshi-flagged ships in the country's import-export operations, officials said.

They said the move could both conserve foreign currency and increase revenue, while creating new training and employment opportunities for seafarers.

BSC will fund the procurement partly through its own resources and partly via government-to-government agreements, sourcing vessels from South Korea and China.

Currently, t...