Coast Guard sets sail for capacity overhaul
Deepak Acharjee
The government is going to raise the capacity of Bangladesh Coast Guard to boost the countrys maritime security, according to sources in the home ministry and coast guard. The paramilitary force has prepared a strategic plan covering a short-, mid- and long-term period to become a fully two-dimensional (sea and air) coastal force by installing a long-range identification and tracking (LRTI)/ and vessel trafficking monitoring and information system (VTMIS) by 2025, the sources said.
As per the short-term plan (20152020), the coastal force wants to raise its capacity by setting up an aviation wing with 10 modern helicopters and also to run the force under the proposed three regional headquarters. The force also plans to induct a number of offshore vessels, inshore patrol vessels, coastal patrol vessels, pollution control vessels, fast patrol boats, harbour patrol boats, high-speed boats, combat ferry boats and diving boats by 2025 to support the Bangladesh Navy during war or whenever necessary.
The coast guard authorities have forwarded the strategic plan to the home and foreign ministries for their approval, a coast guard official said on condition of anonymity.
Home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal told The Independent that the government wanted a full-fledged force at the earliest and accordingly was planning to raise the coast guards capacity. Weve already enacted the Bangladesh Coast Guard Act 2016 to make it a modern and digital paramilitary coastal force, the minister said. The required
equipment, ships and other vessels would be purchased for the force, he added.
Director general of Bangladesh Coast Guard, Rear Admiral Aurangzeb Chowdhury, said the force needed some necessary equipment, manpower and money to implement the strategic plan. We hope to be able to ensure maritime security if the government provides the necessary funds for this purpose, he added.
The coastal paramilitary forces in our neighbouring countries, such as India, have already started radar surveillance along their respective coasts. Even Myanmar is setting up radar surveillance along its coast. But were yet to take any initiative in this regard. Weve to do this as soon as possible, Chowdhury said.
The short term plan envisages a boost in the manpower of the coastal force from the present 3,305 to 6,197. It also proposes to establish three branches, six directorates, three regional headquarters, two more zonal headquarters out of the existing four, one hospital, four composite stations, along with the procurement of two pollution control vessels, seven inshore patrol vessels, eight offshore patrol vessels, 38 big high-speed boats, and two combat ferry boats.
Also, LRIT and VTMIS would be installed under the short-term plan to keep an eye on ships and other vessels along the Bangladesh coastline.
The mid-term plan (20202025) proposes setting up an aviation wing, one aviation and technical training base, along with the procurement of three more riverine patrol vessels, two more pollution control vessels, 30 more high-speed boats, two water jet scooters, six helicopters and six unmanned aerial vehicles. During the period the coastal force will be able to raise its capacity to help the Bangladesh Navy, whenever necessary.
As per its long-term plan (20252030), the paramilitary force wants to raise its capacity fully to become a two-dimensional force.
The coastal forces role is to secure the countrys interests at sea, protect fisheries, prevent illegal immigration through the sea, control pollution, control piracy, prevent smuggling and trafficking of illegal arms, carry out disaster relief, conduct search and rescue operations, preserve forests, and conduct surveillance.
