Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday announced that Bangladesh Navy will be adding two submarines to its fleet by 2015.
She said this while awarding National Standard to BNS Osman at Naval Berth in Chittagong.
The premier also said a process is on to set up the biggest naval base at Rabanabad in Patuakhali with facilities for submarine berthing and aviation alongside increasing the fighting fleet and constructing the Navy’s own air base.
She said two new corvettes and two modern submarines would be included in the Naval Fleet by next year to strengthen the capability of the force to protect the maritime boundary and sea resources.
BNS Osman has been awarded with the National Standard for its outstanding contribution at home and abroad for the last 25 years, including its engagement in the UN Peacekeeping Mission in Lebanon for last four years, which earned glory for the country.
The Prime Minister said the government has taken short and medium term plans to develop the Navy as an efficient, modern and balanced three-dimensional force by 2030.
As part of the plans, 16 ships as well as two helicopters and two maritime petrol aircraft have been added to the Naval Force during the tenure of her government, she said,
Besides, special force SWADS has been commissioned for the Naval Aviation and Unconventional Warfare.
Hasina also mentioned that the disputes over the maritime boundary with Myanmar were resolved in 2012 while with India this year through the judgements by the international courts.
“As a result, the country’s claims over the sea territory now equal its land area as well as its control has been established over sea resources while the government has taken various plans, including collecting sea resources and ensuring their maximum utilisation,” she said.
About conducting hydrographic surveys in the extended working area of the Bay of Bengal to extract sea resources, she said an organisational structure with the post of Chief Hydrographer has been approved for the Navy.
Hasina announced with satisfaction that the Navy has been building two container ships at Khulna Shipyard with its own finance.
She mentioned that Khulna Shipyard for the first time built five Patrol Crafts for the Navy, which manifested the country’s increasing capability to construct it own warships.
The construction of two more big ships and two strong and large patrol crafts have also been started which would reduce dependency on foreign countries, she said.
Navy Chief Vice Admiral M Farid Habib, NDC, PSC received the Prime Minister as she arrived in Chittagong. A smartly turned-out contingent of Navy gave guard of honour to her.
