PM for strengthening Navy to protect country’s sea areas

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday stressed the need for strengthening Bangladesh Navy further in a bid to protect the country’s vast maritime area.

“It is essential to make our Navy stronger further to protect this sea area,” she said while commissioning the BNS Sangram through videoconference from her official residence Ganobhaban.

Navy chief Admiral Aurangzeb Chowdhury, on behalf of the Prime Minister, formally handed over the ‘commissioning formans’ of the ship to captain Arifur Rahman at the BNS Issa Khan Naval Base in Chattogram.

The Prime Minster asked the Navy to protect the vast sea area Bangladesh conquered through peaceful settlement of disputes with two neighbouring countries as Bangladesh will utilise marine resources for thriving the country’s economy.

“We don’t want to fight with anyone. We want peace. But we want to develop our forces with modern technology knowledge keeping pace with the times so that we can properly face if anyone attacks us,” she said.

Sheikh Hasina said every force of the Armed Forces – Army, Navy and Air Force – will be equipped with modern knowledge.

About the Bangladesh Navy, she said many modern equipment, including ships have already been procured for the naval force.

The Prime Minister said she first handed over Khulna shipyard to the Navy. Two dry docks in Narayanganj and Chattgram were also given to the Navy.

Nothing that the country started building ships, she said Bangladesh is working in joint ventures with friendly countries where it is essential in this sector.

“But we'll have to be learned, prepared and to have technology knowledge as well. So that we can build our ships on our own in future and can export if necessary. This though will have to be kept in mind,” she said.

The BNS Sangram will leave for Lebanon on Friday to take part in the UN peacekeeping mission.

Source:UNB