Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina revealed the government’s mega plan for building Bangladesh Navy as a deterrent, three-dimensional force by incorporating submarines, helicopters, missiles, new frigates and other necessary modern equipment and vessels
Bangladesh has almost finalized a deal with the UK to buy an ocean survey ship for Tk 55 crore [one crore is 10 million] against the background of disputes over oil and gas exploration in the Bay of Bengal with India and Myanmar [Burma].

Officials of the finance ministry told the New Age last week that the Bangladesh Navy had sought Tk 55 crore, equivalent to five million pounds, to buy a hydrographic survey vessel from the Royal Navy of the UK, and they are dealing with the matter on a priority basis.

Bangladesh, an impoverished country which can meet only two- thirds of the demand for gas and electricity, needs to enhance the number of surveys and exploration activities in the Bay for its energy security.

Besides, Bangladesh needs sufficient data to establish its claim on the country’s maritime boundary it is sandwiched between India and Myanmar in the upper part of the Bay which is thought to have considerable deposits of hydrocarbon.

Bangladesh registered its objections with the United Nations to the claims of India and Myanmar in 2009 as it had disputes over territorial waters in the Bay with both the countries in two areas – natural prolongation of the continental shelf and the baseline.

At present, the country is carrying out a seismic survey in the Bay under the United Nations Convention of the Law of the Seas at a cost of more then Tk 50 crore.

The survey is being implanted by the foreign affairs ministry which is dealing with the case against India in the UN tribunal. Dhaka has already estimated that it would require Tk 80 crore to finance the legal battle against India in the UN in the next eight years.

The purchase of the hydrographic survey vessel is a part of the government’s mega-plan for making the Bangladesh Navy a ‘three- dimensional’ force which can operate underwater, on the surface and in the air.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina last week, while adressing the officers and sailors at the Naval Headquarters, revealed that two more frigates would be added to the Navy soon.

Initiatives have taken to buy a hydrographic survey ship from the UK and to equip two large patrol boats with missiles made by China, she said, adding that agreements for the purchase of two helicopters and the same number of offshore patrol boats from the UK were in the final stage.

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Bangladesh said it is on target to buy military equipment including 80 armored vehicles and two helicopters as part of its 10-year defense transformation plan.

Planning Minister retired Air Vice Marshal A.K. Khandker made the announcement to parliament in Dhaka, saying orders will be placed for some equipment in the current fiscal year.

The shopping list includes seven tanks and one armored recovery vehicle for the army and maritime patrol craft.

The helicopters and 80 armored vehicles, as well as five armored recovery vehicles and five armored ambulances are destined for Bangladeshi troops on U.N. peacekeeping missions,

“An international tender has already been floated to purchase choppers and aircraft to strengthen maritime patrol and also to turn the navy into a three-dimensional force,” Khandker said.

However, The Hindu report gave no details of costs or time frames.

The country will also beef up its manufacturing of bullets and other small-caliber munitions.

“The government has approved in principle and allocated necessary funds to double the capacity of Bangladesh Ordnance Factory to produce ammunition for small arms,” Khandker said in reply to a written question by the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party.

He said that construction of five patrol craft at Khulna shipyard was under way. The government is considering building or purchasing two larger patrol craft, a hydro graphic survey vessel and one oil tanker at a national or a foreign shipyard.

The government will also be looking to buy one or two old frigates from other countries. The purchases of an offshore patrol vessel from the British navy and a large patrol craft are progressing, he added.

The army has various foreign-made APCs, including around 1,080 Russian BTR-80 and BTR-70 — of which more than 100 are used on U.N. missions — 60 Egyptian-made Fahd 28, and several Turkish and Romanian 6X6 RN-94 APCs for ambulance use.

Last February the newly elected government announced the ambitious procurement plan, including anti-tank and anti-ship missile systems, aircraft for maritime patrol, frigates, tanks and helicopters. A parliamentary committee agreed in principal the 10-year plan in June.

The ship BNS Osman is going to be equipped with anti-aircraft and anti-ship missile from China, analysts said. The BNS Bangabandhu is the most modern ship of the Bangladeshi navy and will be similarly equipped.

The BNS Bangabandhu was built in 1999 by Daewoo of South Korea for $100 million as a multi-purpose anti-air, anti-surface, anti-submarine frigate derived from the fleet of Ulsan class ships that are in service with the South Korean navy. It was fitted with a Thales command-and-control suite comprising a TACTICOS combat system, DA-08 surveillance radar, a Variant surface surveillance radar, a Mirador electro-optical tracking and fire control system and a LIROD Mk2 fire control radar.

The ship was decommissioned and put in reserve in 2002 because of essential warranty work. It was recommissioned in July 2007 for active service as BNS Khalid Bin Walid. It was renamed in 2009 as BNS Bangabandhu.

The navy is in the process of replacing its three former British navy frigates BNS Abu Bakar, BNS Ali Haider and BNS Umar Farooq with modern frigates in next couple of years. It hopes to be operating submarines by 2019.

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Milan 2010 is scheduled at Port Blair from February 3-8 this year, wherein ships and delegations from 13 countries, including Bangladesh, will take part.
Bangladesh Navy ship Kapatakkha left Mongla port Saturday for Andaman, India to join Milan-2010, says a press release.

Navy ships from India, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Australia will attend the six-day programme. Commodore KS Hossain leading the Bangladesh Naval team. There are 37 officers and 67 sailors in the team commanded by commander KM Masud. Earlier, Chief of the Naval Staff Vice Admiral ZU Ahmed inspected overall preparation of ENS Kapatakkha and he expressed the hope that the image of Bangladesh Navy would be enhanced further by taking part in this exhibition.

He instructed all officers and sailors of the ship to uphold Bangladesh in international arena by showing highest professional skill and discipline. Mutual friendly and diplomatic relation on naval security affairs would enhance between Bangladesh and South-East Asian states including India and Australia though this participation, added the release.
……
”Milan-10 has got even more importance after the 26/11 attacks, especially considering the security scenario. An event like this will help Navies of different countries to work together and call up Navies of other countries in case of emergency,” Commander Abhinav Barve, Public Relations Officer of Andaman and Nicobar Command, told UNI.

As per updated report, navies of Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam will be taking part in Milan-2010 out of which nine ships of eight countries will reach Port Blair. Singapore will be sending two Navy Ships while Cambodia will be taking part in Milan for the first time.

”Besides having crucial meetings and international level seminar on security and relief operation, Milan-2010 will have a table top conference in which navies of different countries will be given different situations to react using models of ships and joint strategy,” Commander Barve said.

Milan 2010 will culminate with a grand city parade off marina on February 7, consisting of colourful march past by the contingents of Army, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard, local school children, NCC and police contingents, colourful cultural extravaganza by Army, spectacular aerobatics show by the IAF front like supersonic fighters, tree tall display and water para jumps by the Indian Navy’s Marine Commandos, the Command PRO added.

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