2 frigates added to coast guard fleet
STAFF REPORTER, Ctg
Two modern frigates have been added officially to the fleet of Bangladesh Coast Guard yesterday. The names of the frigates are CGS Tajuddin and CGS Syed Nazrul.
The two frigates reached yesterday around 10am at Ghat No.15 and Captain Shahidul Islam, commander of Bangladesh Coast Guard (east zone), welcomed the frigates while Coast Guard deputy director commodore Sheikh Mahmudul Hasan was present as chief guest.
On March 05, 2015, Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase approved to purchase four Italian built corvettes spending Tk 963 crore for Bangladesh Coast Guard.
Under the government to government deal, the Italian Navy sold the four corvettes to Bangladesh Navy and in the first phase two corvettes reached Chittagong yesterday.
As the two modern frigates included in the fleet of Coast Guard it is expected that the coast guard fleet definitely will be stronger more, said Captain Shaidul Islam.
Earlier we dont have such type of large vessels. The two ships will help to prevent pirates in sea and help to collect mineral resources, protect environment and over all will help to protect the safety of maritime in 200 nautical miles of Bangladesh, added Captain Shahidul Islam.
It is also expected that the two new frigates will play an important role to prevent drug smuggling in sea routes.
Mentionable in 2014 Coast Guard recovered 6, 69,595 pieces of contraband yaba tablets, in 2015 recovered 13, 46, 217 and from January to October 2016 recovered 44, 21, 216 yaba tablets.
