The FIRST Bangladeshi Warship Builder: Dockyard & Engineering Works Limited

Dockyard & Engineering Works Limited or DEW Ltd is a Bangladeshi shipbuilding industry operating by the Bangladesh Navy, located in Narayanganj. This shipyard builds inshore patrol vessels, harbor patrol crafts, coast guard patrol crafts, landing craft utility, landing craft tanks, medium cargo vessels and high-speed boats.

DEW Ltd targeted to build 6,000 DWT ship within 2020. This is the oldest shipyard in Bangladesh, established in 1922. Various types naval ships being built in DEW and in future some larger warships also will built as per the plan. 

Bangladesh needs to boost its naval warship building capabilities throughout all the shipbuilding industries the country has. Bangladesh have to protect vast amount of territorial sea waters in the Bay of Bengal. Various types of natural resources like marine fisheries, hydrocarbons may can be a turning point for Bangladesh’s economy. Fishermen from neighboring countries trying steal our fish resources in the area, illegal migrants trying to go through our waters, piracy must be diminished here and ultimately life-line of our economy the “Sea-Line-of-Communications” or SLOCs shall be protected.

Hence Bangladesh Navy must expand its naval warship fleet, left coastal water policing to the Bangladesh Coast Guard and keep the eye on the high seas. For both roles various types of naval ships are needed. Importing those from overseas sources would cost more while building them in country would save a large amount of tax-payers’ money. Besides saving money, a strong and capable shipbuilding industry will give Bangladesh a strength to her economy. This will also create a handsome amount of jobs for almost all types of skilled manpower. Ultimately shipbuilding in Bangladesh will benefit the country for a long period.