The Bangladesh Navy is going to form an independent command area named ‘Commander Flotilla West (Comflot West)’, bifurcating the command of the Khulna naval area, aiming to strengthen its operational activities in the south-western parts of the country. A commodore rank senior officer of the Bangladesh Navy would be the chief of the proposed Comflot West, government sources said. All the naval warships of the Khulna naval area would be operated under the proposed Comflot West, sources added. At present, all naval activities in the south- western area are done under the existing Commodore Commanding Khulna (COMKHUL).

The authorities concerned have planned to create 81 posts in 21 categories including one post of Commodore, one of Captain, four Commanders, four Lt. Commanders and one Lieutenant for the smooth functioning of Comflot West. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who is also the defence minister, has already given her consent to the proposal to strengthen the naval activities in the Khulna naval area.

The Armed Forces Division (AFD) has prepared a proposal in this regard and it would be sent to the next meeting of the secretary committee on administrative improvement affairs, seeking its recommendations, the sources said.

“Besides operational duties, the naval ships in the south-western areas of the country will also assist civilian organisations by coordinating other forces like the Bangladesh Coast Guard,” the proposal says. “Currently, sea patrols have also been increased than in the past following the ongoing situation. The naval ships, sometimes, were involved in rescue operations and carry and provide relief materials during the disaster period,” the proposal added.

“And that’s why the proposed ‘Commander Flotilla West’ should be formed to speed up the naval operational activities in the area,” according to the proposal. At present, Bangladesh Navy ships and establishments are mainly situated in three regions—the Dhaka Naval Area, Chittagong Naval Area and the Khulna Naval Area.

There are a total of seven area commands of the navy. The area commands are: Commander Chittagong Naval Area (COMCHIT), Commodore Commanding BN Flotilla (COMBAN), Commodore Commanding Khulna (COMKHUL), Commodore Superintendent Dockyard (CSD), Administrative authority Dhaka (ADMIN DHAKA), Commodore Naval Aviation (COMNAV), Commodore Special Warfare Diving and Salvage (COMSWADS) and Commander Submarine (COMSUB).

Of the command areas, COMCHIT is responsible for administration, training and providing logistic support to the ships and establishment in the Chittagong naval area. COMBAN, the Flotilla Commander in the Chittagong naval area, is responsible for sea operational activities and operational sea training.

COMKHUL is responsible for administration, training, operation and giving logistic support to the Khulna naval area and the CSD is responsible for repair and maintenance of Bangladesh naval ships and craft. Admin Dhaka is responsible for administration, training and logistic support tor naval area Dhaka.

COMNAV is responsible for the naval aviation wing, while COMSWADS for the special warfare diving and salvage operations of the naval area. The COMSUB is responsible for administration, training, operation and giving logistic support to submarines. Setting sail with two gunboats in 1971, the Bangladesh Navy has emerged as the guardian of the national maritime space and the force has now become a three dimensional one by inducting two submarines in its fleet.