Defense Update Bangladesh

Bangladesh Armed Forces buys their equipment from dozens of countries. Among them China is the largest, and Russia is in the second position. Some other major suppliers of Bangladesh Military equipment are from Europe and North America. Just after the independence, Bangladesh sought help from friendly countries to equip her military. Among them, most Muslim countries gifted many defense hardware.  Until 1976 when President Ziaur Rahman came to power, China wasn’t Bangladesh’s ally as it was aligned with Pakistan. Zia sorted out that Bangladesh needs Chinese help in almost all sector to become a developed, self-sufficient country. Hence, he pursued a warm relation with Beijing. After that period China became major weapons supplier for the Bangladesh Armed Forces.  On the other hand Russia also remain a key military equipment supplier to Dhaka. As time passed, Bangladesh acquired defense equipment from many other countries. Currently Italy, Germany, France, UK, USA ...

Prime minister sheikh hasina inaugurated the newly built Bangladesh Naval Academy Complex. Chief of Naval Staff also attended the program along with other dignitaries.  Bangladesh Navy now can be able to host more international cadets in their training academy. This complex is one of the most beautiful building in the country. It is located in Patenga, Chittagong.

Chinese Wuchang Shuangliu Shipyard launched 4th Bangladesh Navy Type 056 stealth corvette last Sunday. The hull number of the ship is F114, which will be outfitted soon. Currently the third one, F113, is being trialed in the open sea. Bangladesh Navy has a plan to operate such 14-16 corvettes. Currently two of them are in active BN services. Rest ships of the fleet will be built in the Khulna Shipyard Limited, Bangladesh.

Bangladesh Navy’s patrol frigate BNS Somudra Avijan visited Malaysian & Pilipino ports in a friendly gesture.

Bangladesh Navy is the naval arm of the Bangladesh Armed Forces. This force is responsible to safeguards country’s territorial water bodies along with the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the Bay of Bengal.  In this short documentary, the activities of BD Navy has been shown with narration. BN is going to be the second largest in the South Asia and one of the most formidable in Asia in the coming decades. Many developmental and expansion programs are currently being materialized.

Pabna class patrol boats was the first ever homemade naval vessel for the Bangladesh Navy. Total five crafts were built in the Dockyard & Engineering Works (DEW) Ltd. Naraynagnaj. After serving for long time in the BD Navy, Pabna class crafts were handed over to the newly formed Bangladesh Coast Guard in 1994.  First boat of the class was launched in the 1972 and last three was launched in the 1977. Pabna class crafts are the small naval ship intended to patrol the riverine water bodies with sufficient speed and maneuverability. The first ship was, dubbed as the BNS Pabna. This class was powered by two Cummins diesel engines. It was 75 feet long, 6.1 wide and 6.2 feet draught. The ship weighs 69 tons while comprising 33 crews.  A Swedish Bofors made 40mm cannon was the only armament of the craft. Currently all the ships are serving in the BCG. New class of patrol boats and crafts has been commissioned into the Bangladesh Navy service, which mainly replaced this cl...

Khulna Shipyard (KSY) Limited was established in 1957 and currently being operated by the Bangladesh Navy. KSY Ltd has built the Durgam-class ASW large patrol craft for BN. After establishment, KSY built and repaired many cargo & container vessels. It also manufacture various steel structures for industry and infrastructure building.  This shipyard was handed over to the Bangladesh Navy in 1999 with a large sum of debt. After 2008 KSY paid all its debt and started making profit. Now it is the largest tax payer in the Khulna divisional region. Products of the KSY Ltd are various cargo vessels, container vessels, firefighting boats, tugboats, submarine tugs, harbor patrolling boats, Padma-class patrol boats, Durgam-class ASW LPCs, floating cranes, tankers, supply ships and some more.  In the coming years, Khulna Shipyard, slated to build stealth corvette for Navy. For this purposes modern facilities are being installed on the yard area. Bangladesh needs to enhance i...

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, il...