BSS, Chittagong :
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina here yesterday conferred the Award of National Standard on Bangladesh Navy Ship (BNS) Osman recognizing its outstanding services in the naval force at home and abroad for the last 25 years.
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.
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.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.
