Bangladesh buys five Russian helicopters

Bangladesh Ministry of Defense concluded with the company "Rosoboronexport" contract for the supply of five military transport helicopters Mi- 171SH . On this, as reported by ITAR - TASS news agency, said the director of the Special Assignments "Rosoboronexport" Nikolai Dimidyuk . Transaction amount is not specified. Supply helicopters will be on account of export credit in the amount of a billion dollars , issued by Bangladesh Russia .

Agreement to provide export credit Bangladesh signed in January 2013. On account of the same transaction will be delivered to Bangladesh combat training aircraft Yak-130. Their transfer to the customer , according to Dimidyuk begin in the second half of 2015 . In total, the Bangladeshi military should get 15 Russian aircraft.

Early last year , when it signed an agreement on the allocation of export credit Bangladesh , Russia also agreed to provide the country $ 500 million for the first phase of construction of nuclear power plants " Ruppur ." It began last fall.

China biggest weapons supplier to Bangladesh

China was the biggest supplier of arms to Bangladesh from 2009 to 2013, with the country accounting for 82% of the total arms imported by Bangladesh during the period.“China was also a major supplier in the region, accounting for 54% of total Pakistani arms imports,” according to a press release issued by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).

The Swedish think-tank reported that China exported arms to 35 countries and of those, Bangladesh was the second biggest importer. It also reported that Bangladesh last year agreed on procurement of its first two submarines from China.Former major general and security analyst Abdur Rashid said that China had been the major arms supplier to Bangladesh for a long time. “Most of the arms are used by the armed forces while some aircraft were also purchased from China,” he added.

Asked why Bangladesh purchased mostly from China, Rashid pointed out two key reasons: lucrative financial arrangements and lower cost of arms.“Bangladesh doesn’t have adequate budget to procure arms from the wider global market,” he said.Bangladesh can buy arms from China on credit and in some cases, the loans are soft loans, the former army official added. “In 2013, Bangladesh and Russia inked a $1bn defence purchase agreement with an interest rate of 4.5%.”In a press conference in Dhaka yesterday, Chinese ambassador in Dhaka, Li Jun, said procurement of Chinese submarines by Bangladesh would help bring stability in the region.

China is helping Bangladesh to strengthen its national defence mechanism in accordance with Bangladesh’s defence strategy and this kind of co-operation would make its own contribution to ensure stability in the region, he observed.Earlier this month, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh navy would get two submarines by 2015 and the process of construction of a submarine base was underway. On that day, two new frigates – Abu Bakar and Ali Haider – procured from China were commissioned.According to IHS Jane’s, Bangladesh was the second biggest importer of Chinese arms, spending over $350mn in 2012.SIPRI data shows Bangladesh procured anti-ship missiles, tanks, fighter aircrafts and other arms from China between 2008 and 2012.

Bangladesh Navy to get 2 submarines by 2015

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said two submarines would be inducted in Bangladesh Navy by 2015 to build it as a "three dimensional" force.

http://www.asiandefencenews.com/2013/12/bangladesh-finalises-2-type-035-ming.html

"A process for induction of two submarines in 2015 in the naval force has been finalised as part of the present government's firm determination and commitment to turn Bangladesh Navy into a "three-dimensional force," she said, adding the two submarines would be added to the naval fleet by 2015.Besides, she said, the work on setting up the country's biggest naval base in Ramnabad area in coastal Patuakali district has already been launched.

Earlier on her arrival at the BNS Naval Base Isa Khan, the prime minister was received by Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral M Farid Habib and Commander of the Chittagong Naval Zone Rear Admiral M Akhter Habib.Sheikh Hasina said this while addressing commissioning of two new frigates in Bangladesh Navy at BNS Naval Base Isa Khan here this morning.The two new frigates---Abu Bakar and Ali Haider--- procured from China have replaced two old British frigates.

The prime minister said the government with utmost importance has started the work on increasing necessary infrastructure for the navy including air base along with raising its war fleet."The issue of construction of a submarine base is under process," she said, adding that Khulna Shipyard is building two container ships with the funding of the navy which would play an active role in the country's economy.

Bangladesh finalises 2 Type 035 Ming Class submarine deals with Beijing

Ming-Class-submarine pictured in red box

Bangladesh has finalized a deal to buy two submarines from China, Navy officials have said.

 The ships would strengthen the Bangladesh Navy protecting the country’s resources in the Bay, they said.
The state-to-state deal would cost Bangladesh Tk 1,600 crore or US$203.3 million to procure the two Ming class submarines, they said.The type 035G diesel-electric run submarines are scheduled to be delivered in 2019.The allocation sought by the Armed Forces Division in this connection awaits finance ministry approval. Bangladesh Navy plans to make the payments to China’s state-owned suppliers from the current fiscal to 2017-18, said officials.

Armed Forces Division principal staff officer Lieutenant General Abu Belal Muhammad Shafiul Huq
said in January that the deal to procure the submarines were under negotiation.Around 17 Bangladesh Navy sailors are receiving training on how to operate submarines. The Navy acquired land in Kutubdia Island in Cox’s Bazaar to set up a submarine base. 

Bangladesh Navy receives BNS Somudro Joy

Click on Photo to enlarge

The Bangladesh Navy received “BNS Somudro Joy,” the largest and the heaviest Guided Missile Frigate to its fleet from the United States Coast Guard yesterday. The US ambassador to Dhaka Dan Mozena and chief of Bangladesh Navy Vice Admiral Farid Habib welcomed the ship at the Chittagong Naval Base. After visiting the vessel, the ambassador said the US was the largest export destination of Bangladesh and most of the export trades took place through the waterways. 

The vessel would play a key role in providing a safeguard on the maritime boundary of Bangladesh, he added. “I hope many more vessels will come to Bangladesh from the US, so that, gas, fisheries and other resources can be kept secured, alongside, curbing the rate of human resource and arms trafficking,” said Mozena. The naval chief said they were optimistic about acquiring another frigate of such kind shortly. - See more at: http://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/2013/dec/14/bangladesh-navy-receives-bns-somudro-joy#sthash.UiK9AGpu.dpuf

Bangladesh would like to buy Russian-made 8x8 armoured vehicles personnel carrier BTR-80

All South Asian countries do not have military technology of their own, hence they keep importing and importing thereby devaluating their currencies.
 

Bangladesh is negotiating with Russia for the supply of 8x8 armored vehicles personnel carrier BTR-80 with a Russian credit of one billion dollars, announced in Bangalore, India, Alexander Fomin, Director of the Russian Federal Service for Military and Technical Cooperation (FSVTS)

"We are in talks about which type of military equipment could be delivered under the contract. But Bangladesh is particularly interested about BTR-80 armoured vehicles personnel carrier," said Mister Fomine at the Air Show Aero India 2013 in Bangalore.

Moscow provide a credit of one billion dollars to Bangladesh for the purchase of Russian weapons and equipment in accordance with an agreement reached in January between President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina.

Russia will loan to Bangladesh $1 billion to purchase Russian-made arms and military equipment

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday, January 15, 2013, his country will loan Bangladesh $1 billion to purchase Russian-made arms and military equipment. Bangladesh is likely to use the money to buy MiG-29SMT fighter jets, upgrade an earlier batch of MiG-29s and purchase BTR-80 armored vehicles and Mi-171 military helicopters, the official Russian news agency RIA Novosti reported.

Announcement of the loan came during talks between Putin and Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheik Hasina in Moscow.

In addition to the arms contract, Russia will also grant a loan worth USD 500 million to Bangladesh for the construction of a nuclear power plant in northwestern Ruppur.

"We will not only provide the most up-to-date technology. ...but also provide financial support for the construction of the nuclear power plant at the initial stage," Putin said.

The head of Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom, Sergei Kiriyenko, said technical and environmental assessments would be carried out this year for the plant, which is to have two 1,000-megawatt reactors and will be completed in the early 2020s.

Energy-starved Bangladesh signed an initial deal with Russian state-owned nuclear agency Rosatom in November, 2011, to build a nuclear plant with two 1,000 megawatt reactors at a cost of upto USD 2 billion each against the backdrop of its dwindling reserve of natural gas.

Indian Navy stages Milan 2012 naval exercise with 14+ countries

 Australia, ,Bangladesh, Brunei, Malaysia, Myanmar, Maldives, Mauritius, Seychelles, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Philippines, New Zealand and Thailand Navies take part

 

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February 01, 2012: Milan 2012, the biennial congregation of littoral navies of the Asia-Pacific region is being conducted at Port Blair from February 1 to 6, 2012, wherein 14 countries are participating. The participating countries include Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Myanmar, New Zealand, Philippines, Seychelles, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Thailand.
As a curtain raiser to Milan 2012 and in order to apprise the media about the events during the Milan 2012, a press conference was held onboard INS Kesari at 1100 hrs on January 31, 2012.



During the conference, Lt General (Retd) N.C. Marwah, AVSM, Commander-in-Chief Andaman & Nicobar Command (CINCAN) addressed the media about the importance of Milan in showcasing the Indian Navy at the international stage and allowing cultural exchange between the nations. Marwah also briefed the media about the strategic importance and role of Command in safeguarding the coast of Andaman and Nicobar Islands and EEZ. He also briefed about the various welfare activities that are being undertaken by Andaman and Nicobar Command for Islanders including medical camps, specialized medical camps, recruitment drives, environmental protection drives, helping hand by Defence Wives Welfare Association (DWWA) for various orphanages, jobs, and schooling facilities being offered to Islanders, etc.