Prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday said two submarines will be inducted into Bangladesh Navy this year for the first time, aiming to transform it into a three-dimensional force.
The prime minister said this while addressing the commissioning ceremony of three new warships at the Naval Berth of Bangladesh Naval Academy in Chittagong.
She said the government has undertaken programmes to construct warships in the country with own technology in Chittagong Dry Dock. ‘Our government wants to develop Bangladesh Navy as a more powerful force and will provide it with all necessary supports to this end.’
Referring to the country’s huge sea area as the Navy’s workplace, she said, people will ever remember with deep respect the members of the naval force who are working hard and performing their duties with integrity.
Hasina stressed the need for utilising huge sea resources like fish, mineral oil, natural gas and other valuable resources which are very important for Bangladesh’s national economy and socio-economic development of the country.
She termed commissioning of the newly built warships as another step forward in attaining capability of the Bangladesh Navy.
Elaborating various measures taken for Navy’s development, she said her government, returning to power in 2009, formulated the Forces Goal 2030.
Besides, she said 18 state of the art warships, including frigate, corvette and patrol vessel as well as survey vessels and fleet tanker and container vessels have already been inducted into the Navy fleet.
Maritime helicopters and maritime patrol aircrafts have also been added to the Navy during the tenures of the government, she said, adding that two more Corvettes are also being constructed in China to strengthen the Navy’s capability.
‘The responsibility to utilise huge maritime resources for the economic uplift of a developing country like Bangladesh is bestowed upon the Navy,’ she said.
Hasina said the role of Bangladesh Navy considering strategic and geographical location of the country is immense in protecting water boundary and its resources.
Mentioning the main focus of the entire world is on the maritime resources due to resource limitations on the plain land, she said steps have been taken to ensure the proper use of sea resources through blue economy policy.
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Maritime University has been set up with the cooperation of Bangladesh Navy to further
strengthen the position of the naval force as well as to continue leading role in maintaining world peace, she said.
The prime minister mentioned that construction work of Bangabandhu complex is progressing fast at the Naval Academy to ensure modern and world standard training.
Later, she boarded the newly commissioned warships and witnessed a joint exercise of various warships of the Navy and the Naval Aviation on containing terrorism in the river Karnaphuli.
Ministers, prime minister’s defence adviser, parliament members, the chiefs of the three services, diplomats as well as high civil and military officials were present.
Earlier, the prime minister handed over the commissioning order to the commanding officers of BNS Samudra Abhijan built in the USA and BNS Prottoy and BNS Shadhinota constructed in China through which the warships began their operation formally.
On her arrival at the BNS Base Isha Khan, the prime minister was received by Chief of the Naval Staff Vice Admiral Nizamuddin Ahmed and Commander of the Navy Chittagong Region Riar Admiral M Akhtar Habib.
Source: New Age
