Navy gets two submarines from China
Bangladesh Navy has added two submarines to its fleet for the first time in its history with a view to further intensifying monitoring in the Bay and enhancing the force's combat capability.
“With the inclusion of the submarines, Bangladesh Navy has started its journey as a three dimensional force,” Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Mohammad Nizamuddin Ahmed said at the submarines' handover ceremony at Liaonan shipyard Dalian state, China.
Rear Admiral Liu Zizhu on behalf of the Chinese government handed over the submarines to Admiral Ahmed in presence of senior naval officials of both sides.
The navy chief thanked the Chinese naval force for modernising the submarines and giving necessary training to the Bangladesh Navy personnel to operate and maintain the ships.
In the meantime, Navy personnel of both the countries have completed a sea trial and real training to run the submarines, according to an ISPR news release.
Both the submarines are 76 metres in length and 7.6 metres in width and are equipped with torpedoes and mines which are capable to attack enemy warships and submarines.
The type 035 submarines will soon reach Bangladesh and will be added to the naval fleet at the beginning of 2017 as Nabojatra and Joyjatra.
Contacted, former Navy chief Vice Admiral Zahir Uddin Ahmed, who initiated the process to add the submarines, said, “Today Bangladesh Navy has become complete. The Navy is now a three dimensional force with the inclusion of the submarines.”
The Navy's capacity in the Bay of Bengal would now increase a lot and the country's maritime border would be more secured, he told The Daily Star. He added the force now must concentrate on developing capacity for the proper use of the submarines by creating a special wing for it.
The former navy chief further said, “Amidst many limitations we are advancing, keeping in mind the force's Goal 2030. We hope that we will be able to develop a balanced naval force in next 10 years.”
Both the former and the incumbent navy chiefs expressed deep gratitude to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for her bold initiative to modernise the naval force by introducing submarines and other modern components.
The premier in 2014 commissioned two frigates bought from China for the Navy. Several warships, patrol craft and patrol aircraft were also added to the navy in the last three years.