Bangladesh has announced plans to purchase five naval ships from the United Kingdom as part of its ongoing naval modernization efforts. The deal, which includes two vessels to be built locally in Bangladesh, was discussed during a bilateral meeting between Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson at the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow.
The purchase is part of Bangladesh’s Forces Goal 2030 program, aimed at enhancing the capabilities of the country’s armed forces. Foreign Minister Momen emphasized that the new warships will help protect Bangladesh’s extensive maritime borders, particularly against illegal fishing and other intrusions.
“This acquisition will significantly strengthen our ability to monitor and safeguard our vast sea frontiers,” Momen said.
The military modernization program, initiated in 2009 and revised in 2017, is focused on upgrading the capabilities of Bangladesh’s army, navy, and air force. As part of the navy’s fleet expansion, the government has already committed significant resources to procuring various naval vessels, including frigates, corvettes, cutters, and offshore patrol vessels (OPVs).
In January 2020, Chittagong Dry Dock Limited (CDDL) was awarded a contract to build six new OPVs for the Bangladesh Navy.
Leave a Reply