‘Safeguard our motherland’
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday hoped that Bangladesh Navy will be able to be a commercial manufacturer of warships and thus earn foreign currencies alongside creating jobs.
“This, in turn, will flourish home-grown technologies… and eventually establish Bangladesh as a self-reliant nation,” she said.
The prime minister said this while addressing the President Parade-2019, marking the passing out of the “Midshipman-2017/A Batch” and the “Direct Entry Officers (DEOs) 2019/Bravo Batches” of Bangladesh Naval Academy (BNA) at the academy parade ground in Chattogram in the morning.
Hasina said with government support, Khulna Shipyard Limited has set a milestone in warship-building through manufacturing five patrol and two large patrol crafts under the management of Bangladesh Navy (BN). Work on five more patrol crafts is underway, she added.
The premier said decision has already been taken to build six more well-equipped large frigates at BN-administered Chattogram Dry Dock Limited. The navy is also making IFF (Identification of Friend and Foe) systems for the three forces, she said.
Regarding blue economy, she said, “We’ll have to utilise our marine resources for economic development.”
The prime minister urged the newly-commissioned officers of BN to discharge their responsibilities with honesty and sincerity as they are oath-bound to do so. “You’ll be the future leaders of this navy... to safeguard our motherland,” she added.
Hasina said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman developed BN soon after the country’s independence. Its official journey started with two patrol crafts procured on Bangabandhu’s initiative.
The Father of the Nation commissioned all the major bases of the navy in 1974.
Bangabandhu formulated the “Territorial Waters and Maritime Zones Act, 1974” to establish the country’s sea rights, said Hasina.
She said her government, after assuming office in 2009, formulated “Forces Goal 2030” in line with Bangabandhu’s “Defence Policy” and started its implementation accordingly as the government’s goal is to develop the armed forces.
She said her government added 27 warships to BN, established the navy’s special commando wing “Special Warfare, Diving and Salvage Command” and the aviation wing “Naval Aviation”.
Also, inclusion of two submarines in 2017 has truly transformed BN into a full-fledged three-dimensional force, she added.
To cope with the challenges of 21st century, she said the government is taking various measures to strengthen navy into a technology-based efficient force, considering the regional and geo-political realities.
She said a new base named “BNS Sheikh Mujib” has recently been commissioned at Khilkhet in Dhaka. Construction of two bases -- “BNS Sher-e-Bangla” and submarine base “BNS Sheikh Hasina” -- is progressing fast, the PM said.
With a view to develop training facilities and living standards, 22 multi-storey buildings in different naval areas and a navy township project in Savar have been inaugurated, she added.
Out of the military sphere, the navy is also working in a wide-range of sectors such as women’s empowerment, construction of structures for accommodating forcibly-displaced Myanmar nationals and expansion of blue economy, she said.
Hasina extended her gratitude to the navy for standing beside people during natural disasters.
Earlier, the premier inspected a parade at the academy.
She gave away prizes among 72 young officers, including 61 midshipmen and 11 DEOs, who are entering naval career upon successful completion of their courses. Among them, seven are women and two midshipmen are from the Maldives.
Midshipman Raiyan Rahman was awarded the “Sword of Honour”.
Besides, Midshipman Md Saidis Sakline Miran received “Navy Chief Gold Medal” (second highest award) and acting sub-lieutenant Md Kamruzzaman (from DEO batch) got “Bir Shrestha Ruhul Amin Gold Medal” (third highest award).
Ministers, parliament members, chiefs of the three services, senior military and civil officials and guardians of the newly-commissioned midshipmen were, among others, present on the occasion.
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