“Have to attain capabilities to thwart external enemies”

GBNEWS24DESK//

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today (October 30, 2022) said Bangladesh must attain capabilities to protect the country from external enemies even though it is against the war.

“We want peace, we do not want war. But to protect the country from external enemies we have to attain capability,” she said.

The premier said this while addressing a programme to induct two maritime patrol aircraft (MPA-8322 and MPA-8327) into Bangladesh Navy.

Bangladesh Navy organised the function at Naval Aviation Hanger at Patenga in Chattogram while the PM joined through video conference from her official residence Gono Bhaban.

She said the government is preparing all related institutions properly so that they could protect the country’s independence and sovereignty appropriately.

“… Keeping eyes on that we are preparing our all institutions properly. So that we could protect our independence and sovereignty,” she said.

She said since coming to power in 2009, her government has transformed the Navy into a true three-dimensional force to protect seabed, sea and the sky.

“I believe that induction of these two MPAs will strengthen Navy’s aviation capability to manifold,” she said.

She said that the government also inducted two submarines — BNS Navajatra and BNS Joyjatra — in 2017.

She mentioned that work is underway to build a permanent submarine base with modern basin facilities at Pekua in Cox’s Bazar to provide safe jetty facilities to submarines and warships at the harbour.

PM Hasina said the construction work of “Sher-e-Bangla Base” has progressed a lot to enhance the operational and communication facilities of naval vessels in the coastal areas of southwestern Bangladesh.

She said the government has worked on various infrastructural developments, procurement of warships and strengthen the operational capacity of the existing ships.

Since 2009, the government started implementing the “Forces Goal-2030” in light with the defence policy formulated by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, she said.

“Our Navy personnel staying from out of sight are constantly ensuring the overall security of the maritime area by facing many natural challenges, which deserves appreciation.”