She said her government had undertaken short- and long-term plans to turn Bangladesh Navy into an ‘effective force’.“We will buy submarines in future as part of that process,” she while commissioning three warships and inducting into the Navy's fold two maritime patrol aircraft in Chittagong on Thursday.
Navy Chief Vice Admiral M Farid Habib received Hasina at BAF base Zahurul Haq in Chittagong.
Hasina said her government had initiated moves in 1996 to add an aviation wing to the navy, and a modern frigate, BNS Bangabandhu, capable of handling helicopter flights, was added five years later.
“We have added two maritime helicopters, bought from Italy, to the navy, and today two aircraft from Germany are joining the naval aviation fleet,” she said.
Of the three ships, BN Ship Surma was built in the Khulna Shipyard, while two others - Nirmul and Durjoy - were bought from China. Two maritime Dornier 228NG patrol aircraft were purchased from Germany.
She said her government’s short- and long-term plans for the navy would be implemented within 2030.
The Prime Minister said Bangladesh had won legal rights over 200 nautical miles of economic zone in the Bay of Bengal from Myanmar, ending a 38-year-old dispute.
She hoped Bangladesh would also emerge victorious in her maritime dispute with India that is expected to be settled next year.
"The world is now focusing on maritime resources as reserves of natural resources on land were being exhausted,” she said, adding that nearly 30 million people in the 720-km maritime area depend on the Bay for a living.
“Our sea abounds in valuable resources," Hasina said, adding 90 percent of goods shipment was done through sea routes.
“So, it is essential to maintain security of the sea areas,” she said.
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