PM Awards National Standard To BNS Osman

BNS Osman recently returned home completing its four-year service in the UN Peacekeeping Mission in Lebanon bringing outstanding honour and pride for the nation.

Addressing a function on the occasion, the prime minister said BNS Osman has elevated the position of Bangladesh Navy to a new stature. "It's a time of pride for the whole nation as well as the armed force and Bangladesh navy," she said.

BNS Osman, a multipurpose guided missile frigate, was commissioned in Bangladesh Navy in 1989. The ship has huge contribution to safeguard the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country. It has participated in more than five hundred exercises at home and abroad and trained 445 BN officers and sailors.

Navy Chief Vice Admiral M Farid Habib, NDC, PSC received the Prime Minister as she arrived Chittagong. A smartly turned out contingent of Navy gave guard of honour to her.

Cabinet members, chief of Bangladesh Air Force, local parliament members, diplomats, distinguished persons and senior civil and military officials were present.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina recalled that Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman who first recognized the progress of Bangladesh Navy by giving the national Standard to BNS Isa Khan in 1974.

"Father of the Nation was firmly committed to build up a modern naval force to protect Bangladesh's maritime areas and its resources. At the sincere initiative of Bangabandhu, she said, Bangladesh Navy could launch its journey soon after independence with two Indian patrol crafts 'Padma' and 'Palash' despite many challenges.

Sheikh Hasina said Father of the Nation declared commissioning of all naval bases of Bangladesh at a time in 1974. In his speech, Bangabandhu underlined the importance of a strong naval force saying Bangladesh needs a modern naval force for its geo-political need.

Following the vision of Bangabandhu, the prime minister said her government during its past spell made acquisition of modern navy ship 'Bangabandhu' which received the National Standard last year.

Sheikh Hasina said her government during its office in 1996 had undertaken initiative to build up a modern and time-befitting naval force in light of the Defence Policy formulated in 1974 at the directives of Bangabandhu.

Necessary steps were taken for infrastructure development, procurement of ships and enhancement of the operational capacity of the existing ships, she said. At that time, Bangladesh Army and Air Force also witnessed massive expansion and modernization, she added.

The prime minister said the pace of development of the armed forces had been continued after her government assumed office in 2009. Members of the three services brightened Bangladesh's image in the international arena including UN Peacekeeping missions.

Sheikh Hasina said Bangabandhu had enacted 'The Territorial Waters and Maritime Zone Act" in 1974 for demarcation of the country's maritime boundary. In 2009, we moved for settlement of dispute with neighbouring countries on maritime boundary.

Our initiative helped peaceful settlement of dispute with Myanmar in 2012 and with India this year in the international maritime court.

Sheikh Hasina said through the settlement of maritime dispute Bangladesh could establish its rights on sea areas equivalent to same size of its plain land and marine resources. The government has already undertaken various plans for exploitation and optimum use of the marine resources.

The prime minister said Bangladesh has about 710 kilometer coastal areas where 30 million people directly and indirectly are dependent on sea resources for their livelihood. About 90 percent foreign trade and business is operated on sea routes.

Security of river routes is very essential for safe procurement of sea resource and conducting trade and business. In view of this, the naval force has to play a vital role, she said.

Sheikh Hasina said her government has undertaken many short and long-term plans to build Bangladesh Navy as an efficient, modern and balanced three-dimensional force. The plan will be executed by 2030.

She said a total of 16 ships were inducted in Bangladesh Navy in addition to two helicopters and two marine patrol aircrafts during the tenure of Awami League.

Naval Aviation has been constituted while a Special Warfare Diving and Salvage (SWADS) has been established for unconventional warfare, she said.

The prime minister said two modern corvette ships are being manufactured in China aimed at strengthening the Bangladesh Navy which will be added to the navy fleet next year. Induction of two submarines in the navy will also be completed by next year, she hoped.

Sheikh Hasina said the government has launched the process for constructing the country's largest naval base at Rabanabad in Patuakhali which will have submarine berthing and aviation facilities.

The government has taken steps for increasing the number of war ships as well as development of necessary infrastructure of the navy. The process for construction of submarine base and infrastructure development is going on, she said.

The Prime Minister said the government has approved an organogram for Bangladesh Navy with the provision of appointment of chief hydrographic officer to carry out hydrographic survey in the sea.

Sheikh Hasina expressed her pleasure over manufacturing of two container ships in the Khulna Shipyard with the own finance of the navy. Khulna Shipyard earlier produced five patrol crafts for Bangladesh Navy, and in its continuation two more big size and powerful patrol crafts are being produced, she said adding such projects would reduce dependence on foreign countries.

Appreciating the participation of Bangladesh navy in many nation building activities, the Prime Minister said the force is actively playing role in the afforestation drive, ashrayan project, drive against jhatka fishing and smuggling, during natural disasters, maintaining law and order in emergency and world peace.

She hoped that members of the navy would always uphold the dignity of the force at home and abroad through maintaining high professional skill, discipline and chain of command.

"Abound sea is your area of work. Far from public notice you work hard day and night in the roaring sea. I hope that you would continue this work with more mental strengthen and enthusiasm to protect the huge sea, sovereignty and protection of marine resources," the prime minister said.

-Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS)