Coastguard is going to get new vessels and equipments to strengthen it surveillance activities in the country’s inland water and maritime boundaries.To this end, the government has taken “Enhancement of Operational Capability of Bangladesh Coastguard” project. Under the project, three inshore patrol vessels, six high-speed boats, one floating crane, office equipments and furniture would be collected.
The project would be placed before the meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) scheduled to be sat today for the final approval, said an official of planning ministry here on Monday. He said the government has put concentration to strengthen the capacity of Coastguard to secure the 710-km long costal belt and the economic zone in the maritime boundary, which has been expanded to 200 nautical miles in the Bay of Bengal.
Apart from the 16 districts, 131 upazilas and 14,578 villages in the country’s coastal belt, there are a huge number of char lands and islands. So, Coastguard has the huge responsibility of protecting illegal fishing, illegal movement and smuggling in country’s maritime boundary.
