Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday 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 was addressing the commissioning ceremony of three new warships at the Bangladesh Naval Academy in southeastern port city of 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 the navy as a more powerful force and will provide it with all necessary support 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 work hard and perform 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 navy.
Elaborating various measures taken for navy’s development, she said the 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 aircraft 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.
Later, she witnessed a joint exercise of various warships of the navy, Special Force Swads and the Naval Aviation on
containing terrorism.