This year, 40 members of BCG were awarded the Bangladesh Coast Guard Medal, President Coast Guard Medal, Bangladesh Coast Guard (Seba) Medal and President Coast Guard (Seba) Medal for their significant contribution.

Home minister handed over the medal to the officials and staff of the force.

Addressing the inaugural programme, the minister said the coast guard has become a powerful force now. They have been working on preventing various offences including smuggling and illegal fishing, he said.

The coast guard is also working on protecting the environment, he added.

Last year, BCG seized illegally smuggled goods worth around Tk 2,052 crore and also recovered narcotics worth around Tk 161 crore, according to the force bulletin.

Mostafa Kamal Uddin, senior secretary of Public Security Division under Ministry of Home Affairs, was also present at the anniversary as special guest.

In the welcome speech, BCG Director General Rear Admiral M Ashraful Haq said that the robberies in the Chittagong port have come down to zero due to the relentless efforts of the force.

The international agency ReCAAP (Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery) has acknowledged the efforts in its report, he added