Bangladesh is now constructing international-quality cost-effective warships locally. Additionally, vessels of various sizes and classes are also being manufactured.
Recently, Khulna Shipyard Ltd, under the guidance of the Bangladesh Navy, completed the construction of four warships, named after Shaheed Daulat, Shaheed Farid, Shaheed Mohibullah and Shaheed Akhtar Uddin. In addition, four Landing Craft Utility (LCUs), going by the terms Dolphin, Timi, Tuna and Penguin, were also built.
All of these ships were meticulously crafted at Khulna Shipyard, under the close supervision of the Bangladesh Navy.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wednesday commissioned the four patrol craft and four LCUs at BNS Sher-e-Bangla naval base and Khulna Shipyard Limited in Kalapara, Patuakhali. These newly constructed vessels will not only serve as training and aviation facilities for young sailors but also enhance the capabilities of the Bangladesh Navy.
With over 100 small and large ships of various classes in its fleet, the Bangladesh Navy is continuously expanding its naval capabilities. Four imported warships, namely Shaheed Daulat, Shaheed Farid, Shaheed Mohibullah and Shaheed Akhtar Uddin were decommissioned earlier, making way for the four newly added warships bearing the same names.
Equipped with essential war equipment, these ships are primarily intended for transporting war goods. Noteworthy features include boat guns, large-depth chargers (LDC), rocket depth chargers (RDC), solar panels and other sophisticated systems.
In addition, the four LCUs will play a crucial role in transporting essential equipment during times of war. Interestingly, the landing craft will also be deployed to transport relief materials to the Rohingyas, with their route spanning from Chittagong to Bhasan Char.
Also Read: Officials: Local manufacturing of navy vessels saves money
A master chief of the Navy said: "Previously, these types of vessels were imported from abroad, making us incur significant expenses. However, a remarkable shift has taken place as they are now being constructed locally at Khulna Shipyard. Today, the navy will commission eight ships, all of which were built under the navy's meticulous supervision."
On the low manufacturing cost, he said: "Approximately 30 years ago, a warship was purchased at an estimated cost of Tk34 crore. However, it has now become possible to construct a similar ship in our country for only Tk17 crore. This significant reduction in cost demonstrates how affordable it has become.
“One of the reasons for the lower cost is the significantly lower labour cost in Bangladesh. While the raw materials for shipbuilding are imported from abroad, the availability of inexpensive labour makes it feasible to construct ships at a lower cost. Although we may not be technologically ahead of other countries, we are able to compete with them by building locally manufactured ships equipped with state-of-the-art facilities."
The officer noted that several large ships built to international standards have already been constructed domestically.
