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.