Bangladesh Buys Two Chinese Submarines

Bangladesh has received the first among two submarines, it purchased from China under $203 million deal.

The submarines would be commissioned into the naval fleet at the beginning next year, Armed forces spokeswoman Taposhi Rabeya was quoted as saying by Times Of India today.

"This is the first ever addition of submarines in Bangladesh defence force," she added.

Bangladesh has recently been building airbase near to neighboring country Myanmar and opening several military cantonments across the country. Also, It has been adding new frigates to its naval fleet as part of its defense force expansion plan.

In 2013, the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina signed a billion-dollar deal with Russia to buy fighter training jets, helicopters and anti-tank missiles.

The plan was announced in advance to purchase two submarines the same year as part of her government's move to build a modern navy to defend the resource-rich Bay of Bengal.

A UN tribunal has settled Bangladesh's long-standing maritime border disputes with neighbours Myanmar and India, paving the way for Dhaka to invite bids from multinational firms to explore for oil in the Bay.

Bangladesh has ensured the country's sovereignty over 111,631 square kilometres (43,100 square miles) of sea, an area nearly equal to its landmass.

Xi Jinping last month became the first Chinese president in 30 years to visit Bangladesh, which has historically been more closely allied to rival regional power India.