China has handed over two most advanced Corvette class warships to Bangladesh.
China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (CSIC) delivered the two vessels to the Bangladesh navy in Qidong City, east China’s Jiangsu Province, diplomatic sources have said in Dhaka.
The warships have ability to sail at a maximum speed of 25.5 knots on the high seas besides versatile combat capacity and excellent manoeuvrability.
With a displacement of 1,300 tonnes, the 90m long and 11m wide corvettes are of China’s most advanced export warship type.
Corvette class ships are larger than a patrol craft but smaller than a frigate.
The two vessels will be the key warships of Bangladesh navy, said Zhu Xuejun, of CSIC.
“Decked out with powerful weapons, the vessels are able to sail at a max speed of 25.5 knots on the high seas. They have comprehensive combat capacity and excellent manoeuvrability,” said Zhu.
Earlier, vowing to build Bangladesh navy as a most modern and strong force to safeguard the country’s independence and sovereignty, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said two submarines would join the navy fleet in the middle of 2016.
Hasina also said construction of a base and other infrastructures for the submarines is under process, while a priority is being given to launch full-fledged flotilla activities in Khulna river zone.
In 1996, the most modern missile frigate BNS Bangabandhu, large patrol craft Madhumoti, patrol craft - Barkat, Titas and Kushiara and tanker Kushiara were commissioned in the Navy.