Bangladesh Eyes Self-Reliance In Building Warships: Prime Minister

Bangladesh has taken a project to construct frigates at Chittagong Dry Dock run by its navy and will achieve self-reliance in building warships, Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said.

The present government has already taken various short and long-term plans to build Bangladesh Navy as an effective “three-dimensional force”. “The plans would be implemented by 2030 Insha Allah,” Hasina was quoted as saying by Newsnext during the commissioning two Chinese submarines in Bangladesh’s naval fleet Sunday.

“Besides, our own capability to construct warships is being boosted and the work on building modern LPCs is underway at Khulna Shipyard,” she said.

 India offered to train Bangladesh navy crews in operating submarines after Dhaka recently acquired the first of two boats in January.  India and Bangladesh are in discussion to ink a comprehensive defence pact during the visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasnia to India in April, Hindustan Times reported earlier this month.

India is eying is a comprehensive defence pact that encompasses training, sale of military hardware and military to military cooperation. India is also willing commit up to 500 million USD in line of credit for military cooperation with Dhaka.