PM inaugurates new BAF base

Bangladesh Air Force on Tuesday stepped into a new era as Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated BAF Base Bangabandhu and induction of avant-garde fighter planes and helicopters in the country’s Air Force.

The planes and helicopters include F-7BG-1 Fighter Plane, FT-7BG-1 Fighter Plane and MI-171 SH Helicopter.

Inaugurating the BAF base and Fighter Planes and Helicopters at a ceremony, the prime minister said her government has been working to develop the country’s armed forces as strategically very strong and effective forces through modernising the Army, Navy and Air Force.

She said her government has given special importance on modernisation of the country’s armed forces and added avant-garde and time befitting equipments to increase their capability, improved war strategy and efficiency.

Establishing an Air Force Base and inclusion of avant-garde F-7BG1 fighter plane and MI-171 SH helicopter are the reflection of her government’s policy on modernising the country’s Armed Forces, Hasina said.

She urged the concerned authority to be very careful in maintaining the fighter planes and helicopters saying these were bought with the hard earned money of the people.

Expressing her full trust on the efficiency of air force personnel, the prime minister hoped they would get more training opportunities at the new base with new fighter planes, and would be able to develop themselves as more efficient pilots of the Force.

She said operational strength and professional efficiency of the Air Force would be enhanced to a great extent through the inclusion of new fighter planes and helicopters in BAF.

Mentioning the operation of fighter plane in the battle field as most challenging, Hasina said her government is giving all out support to the BAF so that brave youths come forward in greater number to face the challenges.

She hoped that the effectiveness and capability of the Air Force in protecting Bangladesh’s air space and national interest will get a new dimension through the establishment of new BAF Base Bangabandhu.

Terming the base as the centre of BAF, the prime minister said it will help reduce pressure on other bases in protecting the country.

She said that during its previous tenure, her government bought Mig-29 Fighter Plane of the 4th Generation and C-130 Cargo Plane and also added high-tech powerful and sophisticated RADAR system in the Air Force to protect country’s Air Space.

Assuming the office this time, the prime minister said her government has added to the Air Force state-of-the-art missiles which can be launched from land to air space.

She termed the establishment of Bangabandhu Aeronautical Centre at Kurmitola Airfield as an epoch making and time befitting decision of the present government aiming to ensure proper and cost-effective maintenance of fighter planes and other equipments of the Air Force.

“It is very important to monitor air space of country’s exclusive economic zone at the Maritime boundary,” Hasina said, adding that a full fledged Air Base has been established in Cox’s Bazar to this end.

Besides, she mentioned that purchasing of transport trainer, maritime search & rescue plane as well as Jet trainer for the BAF are also under process while plans have been taken to buy fighter plane for training, helicopters and Air Defence RADAR system from Russia.

She said members of BAF are brightening the image of the country at the international level through working with efficiency shoulder to shoulder with Air Force members of developed nations at the UN peacekeeping missions.

The prime minister said that inclusion of new state-of-the art fighter planes and helicopters in BAF will increase their capability in working at the UN missions and thereby enable them to further brighten the country’s image.

She expressed firm commitment that her government will ensure all possible support in further strengthening the Air Force despite the limitation of resources.

Earlier, the prime minister reviewed a smartly turned-out parade and took salute at the impressive march past.

She also witnessed colorful fly past of various BAF aircraft and an aerobatic show of the newly inducted F-7BG1 fighter planes.

Hasina also witnessed the static display of newly inducted aircraft and helicopter.

Members of Cabinet, advisors, chiefs of the three services, and senior civil and military officials were present.