Special Correspondent :
Bangladesh Navy (BN) on Monday joined the elite club of submarine operators after taking delivery of two Ming class (Type 035G) diesel-electric submarines from China.
These two submarines-Nabojatra and Joyjatra-would be added to the BN’s fleet at the beginning of new year.
Rear Admiral Nizamuddin Ahmed took delivery of the submarines from Chinese Peoples Navy Rear Admiral Liu Zhi Zhu at a ceremony held in Dalian of Liaoning province in China.
“Bangladesh Navy appeared as a 3D naval force after adding the two submarines in its fleet, according to Navy’s Public Relations Department.
BN personnel have already received submarine training in China to operate and maintain the Mings.
Bangladesh has already set up a base and associated infrastructure in Kutubdia Island where the submarine fleet will harbour.
In 2013, Bangladesh signed a $203 million deal with China for purchasing the two submarines to portend increasing militarisation of the Bay of Bengal.
BN, in the recent past, has also bought frigates, corvettes and patrol craft from China as part of the government plan to modernize Bangladesh’s naval forces.
Bangladesh has been expanding its defence capabilities in recent years, building a new airbase close to neighbouring Myanmar, opening several new military cantonments across the country and adding new frigates to its naval fleet.
In 2013, the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina signed a billion-dollar deal with Russia to buy fighter training jets, helicopters and anti-tank missiles.
Hasina announced the plan to purchase two submarines the same year as part of her government’s move to build a modern navy to defend the resource-rich Bay of Bengal.
Bangladesh had finalised the deal with China for supply of two Type 035G or Ming class export version submarines along with training at a reported cost of $ 203 million by end 2013.
These types of submarines have been in service with the Chinese navy for nearly forty years since the early 70s though the Type 035G entered service in 19907.
This class of submarine has its origin in the Soviet Romeo class design of the 50s which has been extensively modified by the Chinese. These submarines, in all likelihood, are ex-Chinese navy which were either decommissioned or placed in reserve since the Chinese navy itself is going through a modernisation phase.
These diesel-electric submarines displace 2110 tons and have a surfaced endurance of 8000 nm allowing them to stay at sea for about 60 days. They are manned by a crew of 57 personnel and carry 18 torpedoes with an option for carrying 32 mines also. Considering the vintage of the design, the sensors may not be state-of-the-art though modern fire control systems may have been installed.
The torpedoes are also likely to be early Chinese designs with ranges of about 20 – 25 km.
