Patuakhali to get biggest naval base with aviation facilities
PM to commission 2 subs on March 12
DEEPAK ACHARJEE
After becoming a three-dimensional force, the Bangladesh Navy will set up a new, full-fledged naval base at Rabnabad in Patuakhali, the biggest of its kind in the country.
Not only will the new naval base have facilities for submarine berthing and aviation, it will bolster the fighting fleet. The Navys own air base, too, will be constructed there.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has already given her consent to set up the proposed full-fledged naval base, named BNS Sher-E-Bangla, near the Payra Seaport at Rabnabad area of Patuakhali, disclosed sources in the government.
The government is going to set upthe proposed naval base at a timewhen a new cantonment is going tobe set up for the Bangladesh Armyat Lebukhali area in Patuakhali.
The proposed naval base at the area will help ensure the security of the countrys maritime areas, especially in the Bay of Bengal, for extracting sea resources and securing trade.
The proposed naval base is being set up by the Navy as part of its implementation of its Force Goal 2030.
A high-ranking official of the defence ministry told The Independent that they have prepared a proposal in this respect, which will be placed at the next meeting of the secretaries committee on administrative improvement affairs, scheduled to be held soon.
In the proposal, the acting secretary of the defence ministry, Akhter Hossain Bhuiyan, disclosed that a total of 1,129 posts in different categoriesincluding one post of Commodore, four posts of Captain, 20 posts of Commander, 33 posts of Lieutenant Commander and six posts of Lieutenantwould be created to set up the proposed naval base.
It would be possible to ensure security for the Payra Seaport and the coastal areas of the countrys southern areas after the modern naval base is set up, the proposal noted.
According to the proposal, it would provide air support at the seaport and its adjacent areas, and also help create barriers to any enemy entering the countrys territory during wartime.
It will also help build the naval forces skilled manpower, provide assistance tothe civil administration while conducting anti-smuggling operations, stop sea pollution and conduct rescue operations during natural calamities, the proposal added.
At present there are only three naval bases in the country.
As part of its moves to strengthen the naval force, the government has purchased two submarines from China. On November 15 last year, the Bangladesh Navy entered the submarine era by receiving two Ming-class submarines from China. The two submarinesnamed Joijatra and Navojatrareached Chittagong port from China on December 23 last year.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, also defence minister, will commission the submarines on March 12.
The Navy has already prepared a master-plan to strengthen the force further with a view to ensuring the security of 1,18,813 sq. km of sea territory. Of the 1,18,813 sq. km of its sea territory, Bangladesh has got 70,000 sq. km from Myanmar and 19,000 sq. km from India, which comprise the territorial sea and an exclusive economic zone extending out to 200 nautical miles.
Under the master-plan, the Navy will purchase more warships and helicopters and set up more naval bases. In 2013, the Navy purchased two Dornier 228NG (new generation) patrol aircraft for surveillance at sea. It has carried out search operations in the deep sea using the aircraft.
