To know the history of BSAA Khulna we have to look decades back when a number of young and energetic Shipping Executives of Bangladesh, foreseeing the importance of an Association for the Shipping Community had formed a body and named it Bangladesh Steamer Agents' Association.

 It was the 29th day of May 1978 the BSAA came into effect. The Ministry of Commerce Government of The Peoples Republic of Bangladesh Granted the License No.2 1978 dated May 6 1978. As it is stated, " in pursuance of section 3 of the trade organisation ordnance, 1961 (Ordnance No. XLV of 1961) the Government is pleased to grant this license to this said Association and to direct that it be registered with registrar of Joint Stock Companies, 40 Purana Paltan, Dacca under the Companies Act 1913,  (Act VII of 1913) as a company with limited liability without the word  "Limited" in its name.

 And the Branch Office BSAA Khulna, on 25th October 1978. With the aims and objectives as laid down in the Memorandum & Articles of Association of Bangladesh Shipping Agents' Association previously known as Bangladesh Steamer Agents' Association.

 The Bangladesh Shipping Agents' Association or in short BSAA is the association of the shipping agents in Bangladesh. Having its main body in Chittagong. The Bangladesh Shipping Agents' Association Khulna or BSAA Khulna is the branch organization in the same light and shadow of its parent body in Chittagong.

 The main object of this Association is to promote and protect the interest of the members in conformity with the policy of the Government.

 As a part of the service to render towards the member firm the BSAA and it's office bearers try their utmost to keep close liaison with the Port and the Customs Authority with the Shipping Office and the Government offices. And in particular attends to all meetings and discussion held for the protection of the member's interest.

 Lest we should forget the pioneers following are the members of the first Adhoc Executive Committee formed in the year 1978.

 The first Executive Committee of the BSAA Khulna comprised of following members:

 Mr. M Idrish Meah was given the responsibility to be the first Secretary of this Association at Chittagong.

Mr. S. A. A. N Alam was given the responsibility to be the first Secretary of this Association in Khulna.

 From the small office and organisation of Bangladesh Steamer Agents' Association in 1978-79, today in 2003 it has a much larger forum and reached a position of more commitment and diversified its scope to more avenues with the change in the pattern of shipping trade. The break bulk shipping trade is limiting its scope and on the contrary the containerization is taking its place in flamboyant speed. With the introduction of the concept of freight forwarding the shipping business has become more dynamic and broader in terms of ocean carriage.

 Sometime during the end of 1978 it was in 1/1 Taltola Mashjid Road Khulna. The first official location of BSAA Khulna.  The office premise was not spacious enough and as such the Executive Committee meetings were held in the office chamber of the members. The first Executive Committee Meeting was held in the office of Mr. Akhlaqur Rahman of James Finlay & Co. Ltd. Khulna. Also elected as First Chairman of BSAA Khulna. The office records confirm a number of EC meetings being held at the offices of different shipping company which included the office of M/S Samudrajatra Shipping Lines, M/S Shaw Wallace Bangladesh Ltd., M/S M.M. Ispahani Ltd., Atlas Shipping Agencies Ltd., M/S Aquatiq Shipping Lines Ltd., M/S United Liner Agencies Ltd., M/S Birds Bangladesh Agencies Limited, M/S Aquamarine Limited, M/S Bengal Shipping Lines Ltd., M/S Mashriquee Traders Ltd., Later on in the year 1982 the office was shifted to a room in 2, Ahsan Ahmed Road Khulna on 20th February 1982. The present location was selected and office shifted to Jiban Bima Bhaban, 46 KDA Avenue, Khulna during November 2000.

 BSAA Khulna had had performed the functions of Licentiate Measurers Department [LMD] which started functioning from February 1979. Well known at those days as (Agrabad LMD). It was an additional load on the part of the then BSAA. More than 50 employees had worked in the BSAA LMD. However, due to objection of the Ministry of Commerce and subsequent court case and by the order of the Honourable Supreme Court the functioning of the LMD had to be ceased from 13th March 1981 and subsequently delete clause 36 from the Memorandum.

 From the small office room of 250 square feet in size at 2, Ahsan Ahmed Road Khulna, presently the Association has the capacity setting up the office at Jiban Bima Bhaban, 46 KDA Avenue Khulna with a total space of over 1000 square feet area.  Equipped her office furniture with modern conference table, Computer, Fax, E-mail, Own Photostat Machine for printing of the Berthing Minutes, Laminating Machine for the certificates for members and launched the web-page in the Internet. The Association is having her own transport one air-conditioned microbus for transportation of her members attending berthing meetings at Mongla. The conference room is further equipped with a 5 ton Split-Type Air-Cooler.

 Although in the initial stage the BSAA Khulna Branch had the financial dependency on the parent body at Chittagong. Later on with the emergence of time and realizing the exigency the financial part was transferred upon the branch office to handle independently. Member firms and their branch offices having licentiate under Mongla Custom House now register their firm with BSAA Khulna independently, can get their certificates issued from Khulna. Presently the BSAA Khulna has to arrange the transport for Berth Allocation Committee Meeting at Mongla and Khulna. The job of printing the Berthing Sheet is also vested upon the Association, which was previously being handled by Mongla Port. The branch office however, is submitting the monthly accounting statements to the parent body at Chittagong. Although The Annual Audit being conducted by the Parent body, the branch office is submitting Annual Financial Reports accordingly.

 The Association has not left its scope limited to holding meetings only. Presently the BSAA Khulna has a number of employments and responsibilities to perform for the member firms.

1.   The Berthing Meetings held at Mongla Port are being looked after by the Association.

2.   The Association has to arrange for the transport Khulna/Mongla/Khulna for the members attending the berthing meeting.

3.   The Association has to arrange for the entertainment of the members attending the berthing meeting.

4.   The Berthing Minutes are being printed and edited from the Association Office.

5.   Mongla Port Authority charges Taka=500/- from each member firms for allowing MPA conference room for the berthing meetings.

6.   The air-conditioned microbus purchased for the Association is also offered for the usage of members on rental basis, although limited within the jurisdiction of Khulna Port City, Mongla Sea Port, Benapole Land Port, Jessore Airport & Bagerhat Court. This scope has been intended to render service to the members and at the same time generate fund from the microbus usage.

7.   The air-conditioned conference room is also offered to the members for free usage for any official conference or meeting of the member firms subject to prior application and approval of the committee.

8.   Besides above the Association has the responsibility to assist members upon request for free consultation service to any of their difficulties related to Port, Customs, and other related matters.

9.   In order to build better rapport among the members the Association has the responsibility to   arrange get-together in the form of Eid-Reunion, Annual Picnic with family members.

10. The Association has the future plan of having her own land and building once the fund position so permits.

11. Once in own premise the Association shall be having club facility for the members.