Bangladeshi Govt. wants fighter base at Cox's Bazar

 

The prime minister has given directives to turn Cox's Bazar airport into an advanced airbase for speedy dispatch of fighter planes, according to a paper presented by defence ministry officials to a parliamentary body on Sunday. The report presented to the standing committee on defence said the ministry has also proposed allocating 25 percent of the annual defence budget to the air force until 2014 for its modernisation.

 

It further said that the government was moving to set up a radar station in Cox's Bazar, followed by one in Barisal, to bring the country under radar coverage. The paper said the defence ministry had finalised the specifications for procuring a radar system for Cox's Bazar. None of the standing committee members spoke to the press after the meeting. "We have not discussed anything newsworthy today," defence committee chairman Idris Ali told reporters at the parliament building.

The paper tabled at the meeting by defence ministry officials said, "As per the directives of the Prime Minister, preparation for turning the Cox's Bazar air port into an advanced air base is on. "The ministry is coordinating with the civil aviation authorities of Bangladesh to stretch the existing runway and build [other facilities]."

 

Ministry officials said in their report that the deputy commissioner of Cox's Bazar had already taken measures to acquire land for the purpose. The report also said the ministry had drafted short-term, mid-term and long-term plans to modernise the air force. "As per the short-term plan, 25 percent of the annual military budget can be given to the air force until 2014. "Or a special budget allocation can be made to install vital instruments for modernisation of the air force," it said.

 

 

"Short-range and mid-range surface-to-air-missile (SAM) system can be procured to secure the air force's installations as mid-term measures (from 2014 to 2021)," said the report. It also said the existing A-5, FT-6 and F-7 fighter planes could be replaced in phases in the long-term. "After 2021, measures can be taken to purchase new planes for the air force's three squadrons," said the defence ministry paper.

Land acquisition for submarine base in Cox’s Bazar starts

The two Ming-class submarines are expected to strengthen the navy’s ability to protect maritime resources and territorial waters, the New Age newspaper quoted unidentified officials as saying.

 

Type 035 G Chinese Ming Class Submarines

“The state-to-state deal would cost Bangladesh $203.3mn to procure the two Ming-class submarines,” the report said.

Officials from the navy or military’s media arm were not immediately available for comment but the report came four months after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina announced the government’s plans to procure submarines.

In August, Hasina told a navy ceremony that, despite economic constraints, her government is committed to building a modern and balanced three-dimensional naval force for safeguarding interests in the high seas and littoral regions.

Chinese Ming Class Submarines

According to earlier reports, the Type 035G diesel-electric submarines were scheduled to be delivered in 2019. The navy decided to make payments to the Chinese state-owned firm that makes the submarines from the current fiscal to 2017-18.

The navy said 17 officials had been trained to operate submarines and it had acquired land on Kutubdia Island in southwestern Cox’s Bazaar to set up a submarine base.

“We need to have a robust maritime presence as a strategic nation,” Maj Gen (retired) A N M Muniruzzaman, a defence analyst, told a news agency.

The Indian Ocean has become the “most strategic maritime theatre” with India, China and the US being the key actors, particularly after America’s maritime policy began focusing on the region, he said.

The submarine deal will be the second major defence agreement this year. Bangladesh earlier finalised a $1bn deal with Russia to procure Mi-17 helicopters, combat trainer aircraft, armoured personnel carriers, anti-tank missiles and pontoon bridges.

Analysts have said this deal appeared to be a diplomatic shift as Russia was not a traditional source of weapons. The Bangladeshi military is more familiar with weapons from China and the US, they said.