Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus met with Lesley Craig, Head of the South Asia Regional Department at the FCDO UK, and Commodore Whalley to discuss the HMS Enterprise and its potential benefits for Bangladesh’s maritime research and development today in London. Photo: BSS

LONDON, 13 June 2025 (BSS) - Lesley Craig, Head of the South Asia Regional Department, FCDO, UK, accompanied by Commodore Whalley, met Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus here today (Friday) to brief him on the naval, oceanographic and survey vessel HMS Enterprise that is being procured for the Bangladesh Navy.

The HMS Enterprise is a multi-role hydrographic survey ship designed for hydrographic and oceanographic data collection.

The UK team briefed the Chief Adviser on the various capabilities and roles that the ship had and was capable of, Chief Adviser's Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder told BSS. 

The Chief Adviser was keen to know how the platform would enhance Bangladesh's abilities to scope, survey and collect data from its waters for the benefit of science, knowledge and research.

He also requested the UK team to assist by providing what equipment might further be needed to enhance its capabilities and knowledge in the maritime domain, find ways for new resource exploration, study effects of climate change, help preserve mangrove forests, conduct fisheries studies, research biodiversity, and a host of other issues.

The Chief Adviser also stressed bilateral research collaboration between the two nations by using the capabilities of this vessel in the near future.

He especially stressed the maritime education collaboration of young students to extract maximum benefit from this vessel exchange.

Prof Yunus firmly believed that such a vessel would enable Bangladesh to know its oceans and resources better for the benefit of its people.