Bangladesh’s first submarine base starts operation today

[Species]

Ali Asif Shawon, from Cox’sbazar
March 19, 2023 2:00 PM Last update on: March 19, 2023 4:53 PM

Bangladesh is set to operationalize its very first submarine base with modern basin facilities for the Navy at Pekua of Cox's Bazar to provide safe jetty facilities to submarines and warships at the harbour.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the submarine base at “BNS Sheikh Hasina” virtually from her official residence, Ganabhaban in the morning.

Built at a cost of $1.21 billion, the base can accommodate a total of six submarines and eight warships at a time. It will allow for safe and swift movement of the submarines in case of emergency, as the base is located at the Bay of Bengal.
The premier laid the foundation stone of the submarine base, which is one of the most remarkable naval diplomacy achievements of Bangladesh, on March 3, 2017.

After coming to power in 2009, the government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has started implementing the “Forces Goal-2030” in light of the defence policy formulated by the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Submarine Fleet Headquarters at the BNS Sheikh Hasina COURTESY“To turn the Navy into a modern and regional strong force, the government is taking and implementing realistic plans such as various infrastructural developments, incorporation of warships to the Navy and strengthening the operational capacity of the existing ships,” Sheikh Hasina had said.

Strategic importance​

In 2016, Xi Jinping became the first Chinese president in 30 years to visit Bangladesh, which has historically been more closely allied with India.

After the visit of Xi Jinping, two submarines were bought from China and Chinese experts committed to building the submarine base in Bangladesh, which became a big concern for India, according to regional experts.

In recent years, Bangladesh has expanded its defence capabilities, building a new airbase close to neighbouring Myanmar, opening several new cantonments across the country, and adding new frigates to its naval fleet.

An international tribunal has settled Bangladesh's long-standing maritime border disputes with neighbours Myanmar and India, paving the way for Dhaka to invite bids from multinational firms to explore for oil in the Bay.

Officials say the settlement has ensured the country's sovereignty over 111,631sq-km of the sea, an area nearly equal to its landmass.

In 2016, two submarines were added to Bangladesh's armada Courtesy

Easing movement​

In November 2016, two submarines - “BNS Navajatra” and “BNS Joyjatra” - were added to Bangladesh's armada, turning the Bangladesh Navy into a truly full-fledged “three-dimensional” force in line with the Forces Goals of the country.

Both the submarines are type 035G class; 76 metres in length and 7.6 metres in width, and equipped with torpedoes and mines capable of targeting enemy warships and submarines.

The two Ming-class submarines currently berth in the “BNS Issa Khan”, at the largest naval base of the Bangladeshi Navy in Chittagong, according to officials.

Berthing in the Karnaphuli River surrounded by the country's busiest port Chittagong Port was tough for the Navy, because commercial operations at the port needed to be suspended during the movement of the submarines.

In addition, the submarines also needed a special basin to berth and further armour facilities to protect them from air strikes.
To meet these demands the government decided to build a submarine base with the help of China. The plan was not easy to execute for Bangladesh, which is surrounded by India and Myanmar, said officials.

Bangladesh’s first submarine base starts operation Monday

PM Sheikh Hasina laid the foundation stone on March 3, 2017

www.dhakatribune.com

 

[Homo Sapiens]

Bangladesh is set to operationalize its very first submarine base with modern basin facilities for the Navy at Pekua of Cox's Bazar to provide safe jetty facilities to submarines and warships at the harbour.

Now there should be no excuse of not to order at least six submarines from China with condition that, at least two would be built in Bangladesh. If we want to survive as a maritime nation then surface Warship and Submarine building capability is a must. We had a rich tradition of ship building including warship building up to early 19th century. British and other European colonial power used made in Bangladesh warships in their European naval wars. Our ship-building activities were greater than Great Britain in 18th Century. We need to revive that glory.

 

[bluesky]

Now there should be no excuse of not to order at least six submarines from China with condition that, at least two would be built in Bangladesh. If we want to survive as a maritime nation then surface Warship and Submarine building capability is a must. We had a rich tradition of ship building including warship building up to early 19th century. British and other European colonial power used made in Bangladesh warships in their European naval wars. Our ship-building activities were greater than Great Britain in 18th Century. We need to revive that glory.

Please ask World Bank to lend $2 billion to purchase 6units of submarines.

 

[Homo Sapiens]

Please ask World Bank to lend $2 billion to purchase 6units of submarines.

We need to increase our Tax-GDP ratio to an acceptable level. Currently, Our tax breaks are greater than the total collection of tax. These tax breaks are doing more harm than good. Most of the beneficiaries are earning huge profits and siphoning off their wealth to other countries illegally. Unless we raise our defence spending at least 2.0-2.5% of GDP, we can not hope for any meaningful development of our armed forces. And this is only possible if we raise the capability of Govt. to spend adequate amount of resources for military without neglecting other sectors. Low tax revenue is also the reason we have one of the lowest per capita infrastructure spending, inadequate health and education spending etc.

 

[mb444]

BD tax to GDP ratio languishes in the single digit. This is unsustainable. We need the money for defence and far more important things for me personally like education, infrastructure, social security net etc.

dhaka alone pays something like 75%+ off all tax… other regions must start to share the burden. I have said it many times, start with fixed assets…building and land…. Seize and resell any without tax…no ifs and no buts… implement this and the rest will fall in place.

 

[Homo Sapiens]

 

[The Ronin]

Now there should be no excuse of not to order at least six submarines from China with condition that, at least two would be built in Bangladesh.

Not all submarines will and should come from China. If engine issue is not resolved and BN doesn't opt the Chinese alternative then deal could go to Turkey and Korea. Only two hulls need to be built in foreign countries if we plan for ToT. Rest can be built here.

 

[Homo Sapiens]

Not all submarines will and should come from China. If engine issue is not resolved and BN doesn't opt the Chinese alternative then deal could go to Turkey and Korea. Only two hulls need to be built in foreign countries if we plan for ToT. Rest can be built here.

Bangladesh navy need interoperability with PLAN Submarine. This is why I want China to remain dominant foreign supplier to our big-ticket naval equipment. Think about a crisis in Bay of Bengal when hostile power put a naval blockade and destroyed our naval assets including Submarine. Can we rely on Turkish or German submarine to rapidly order and deploy them? What would be the distance or even would they be willing to provide ignoring the pressure from hostile power? In this case, China is much nearer, have greater capacity to provide in the shortest of times and have capability and willingness to ignore pressure from hostile power. Interoperability of Chinese and Bangladeshi Navy in Bay of Bengal will act as a deterrence.

Chinese newer generation Submarine is a lot better as it is rapidly narrowing technological gap with the West. Chinese Submarine would be a lot cheaper, we can get better terms from China due to strategic consideration of China in Bay of Bengal, would be reliable in crisis times.

 

[bluesky]

We need to increase our Tax-GDP ratio to an acceptable level. Currently, Our tax breaks are greater than the total collection of tax. These tax breaks are doing more harm than good. Most of the beneficiaries are earning huge profits and siphoning off their wealth to other countries illegally.

Please send a BB circular that says explicitly that the tax: GDP ratio is weak because some get unique tax benefits. Tax benefits for whom? Investors, local pr FDI? Are they investing that much and getting an exemption? FDI figures are very weak compared to India or Vietnam.

• Bangladesh foreign direct investment for 2021 was $1.39B, a 8.97% decline from 2020.
• Bangladesh foreign direct investment for 2020 was $1.53B, a 20.06% decline from 2019.
• Bangladesh foreign direct investment for 2019 was $1.91B, a 21.21% decline from 2018.
• Bangladesh foreign direct investment for 2018 was $2.42B, a 33.76% increase from 2017.

I think the GDP figures are fictitiously resulting in low tax volume.

 

[Homo Sapiens]

Please send a BB circular that says explicitly that the tax: GDP ratio is weak because some get unique tax benefits. Tax benefits for whom? Investors, local pr FDI? Are they investing that much and getting an exemption? FDI figures are very weak compared to India or Vietnam.

• Bangladesh foreign direct investment for 2021 was $1.39B, a 8.97% decline from 2020.
• Bangladesh foreign direct investment for 2020 was $1.53B, a 20.06% decline from 2019.
• Bangladesh foreign direct investment for 2019 was $1.91B, a 21.21% decline from 2018.
• Bangladesh foreign direct investment for 2018 was $2.42B, a 33.76% increase from 2017.

I think the GDP figures are fictitiously resulting in low tax volume.

Tax waivers erodes 8.0pc of Bangladesh's tax-GDP ratio​

​

FE REPORT
Published :
Sep 06, 2021 03:09 PM
Updated :
Sep 20, 2021 05:20 PM
Share this news



Tax exemptions are eroding 8.0 per cent from Bangladesh's tax-GDP ratio, but the government's revenue authority says it is necessary to spur economic growth.

Bangladesh's tax-GDP ratio is one of the lowest in the region.

The NBR chief said they were not frustrated over the ratio as the tax waivers fall within fiscal policy in the current budget with the greater goal of higher consumption by well-off middle-class people.

The country's tax-GDP ratio is currently below 9.0 per cent which could have been 17 per cent if the government refrained from offering exemption, admitted NBR chairman Abu Hena Md Rahmatul Muneem.

"We are not frustrated or concerned over the poor tax-GDP ratio of the country as our calculation before this year's national budget found that reason," the National Board of Revenue chairman said at a press briefing on the NBR premises.

Some 8.0 per cent of the total revenue collected from customs wing is being lost in the form of tax exemptions, he added.

The country's achievement on education, health, infant mortality is better than other neighbouring countries for giving tax exemption in relevant sectors.

He said fiscal policy for the current year's budget has been devised keeping in consideration increased consumption by middle-income group of people.

"To reduce import-dependency for the goods mainly consumed by middle-income group, the revenue board has offered a wide range of tax exemption to popularize 'Made in Bangladesh' slogan," he added.

Waiver for home-appliance manufacturers would help in the growth of domestic industry, he said for an instance regarding the shift in economic pivot during the corona crisis that squeezed external trade worldwide.

"We won't let other countries target our middle-class consumers (with their products)," he said.
The tax-benefit has been offered for a longer period to facilitate investors in framing their future plans, he noted.

Responding to a query, the NBR chairman said taxmen would not go for any harsh measure for people who have Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) but did not submit tax returns in compliance with the law.

Although tax-return submission made mandatory for all TIN-holders, taxpayers have yet to get habituated to doing this, he said about the logic behind leniency.

"Not enforcement but awareness would get priority. If it does not work, later they would be brought under law," he added.

He said the government has yet to decide whether it would organize income-tax fair this year on a large scale.

In case of not holding tax fairs, the tax zones will arrange tax fair-like environment on their respective premises like in previous years.

On lottery for Electronic Fiscal Device (EFD), he said mass campaign and awareness is imperative to make it successful as people are not claiming the prizes (on account of paying value-added tax).

Although the NBR has decided to honour 100 consumers on their EFD invoices, it could hand over prizes to less than 20 persons in a month during the last eight lotteries.

NBR member of VAT wing Dr Abdul Mannan Sikder said the lottery programme is gaining momentum gradually. Daily more than 80,000 invoices through EFDMS are being generated.
"Feedback of EFDMS is encouraging and we are planning to honour some businesses with certificates of appreciation next month for using EFDMs," he said.

The NBR chairman said they are thinking about some alternatives to ensure VAT collection from retail businesses.

Director-General of NBR research and statistics wing Md Anwar Hossain gave a detailed presentation on 'Revenue Mobilization Work-plan' of the NBR at the programme.

He said revenue collection had grown 500 per cent in the last thirteen years of the present government's rule.

In FY 2008-09, the NBR collected revenue worth Tk 525.27 billion that jumped to Tk 2.59 trillion in FY 2020-21.

doulot_akter@yahoo.com

Tax waivers erodes 8.0pc of Bangladesh's tax-GDP ratio

Tax exemptions are eroding 8.0 per cent from Bangladesh's tax-GDP ratio, but the government's revenue authority says it is necessary to spur economic growth. Bangladesh's tax-GDP ratio is one of the lowest in the region. The NBR chief said they were not frustrated over the ratio as the tax waiv

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

 

[Hellfire2006]

Now there should be no excuse of not to order at least six submarines from China with condition that, at least two would be built in Bangladesh. If we want to survive as a maritime nation then surface Warship and Submarine building capability is a must. We had a rich tradition of ship building including warship building up to early 19th century. British and other European colonial power used made in Bangladesh warships in their European naval wars. Our ship-building activities were greater than Great Britain in 18th Century. We need to revive that glory.

Do you have a source to prove your point

 

[The Ronin]

This is why I want China to remain dominant foreign supplier to our big-ticket naval equipment. Think about a crisis in Bay of Bengal when hostile power put a naval blockade and destroyed our naval assets including Submarine. Can we rely on Turkish or German submarine to rapidly order and deploy them? What would be the distance or even would they be willing to provide ignoring the pressure from hostile power? In this case, China is much nearer, have greater capacity to provide in the shortest of times and have capability and willingness to ignore pressure from hostile power.

I am confused. If your naval assets including submarines are destroyed then how do you plan to rapidly deploy your subs which are already destroyed? And what made you think you can't rapidly deploy Turkish or German subs like Chinese sub? What does it even mean? Naval assets including submarines will already be put on high alert and patrol duty if there's tension with out neighbors.

Our neighbors are not that friendly so doubt anybody can help us from outside during conflict if our neighbors decide to block our supplies during conflict which they obviously will. Best solution for that is local manufacturing capability. China may not help us in conflict with Myanmar where Turkey has no problem to supply us against both countries. Unless we attack/invade first I doubt Germany or other EU/some other countries will refuse to supply.

Chinese newer generation Submarine is a lot better as it is rapidly narrowing technological gap with the West. Chinese Submarine would be a lot cheaper, we can get better terms from China due to strategic consideration of China in Bay of Bengal, would be reliable in crisis times.

But still not better than modern Western sub. There are pros and cons if you compare them. But overall Western sub seems better. Chinese stuff are not always cheaper like people think. Pakistanis and Thais ($400 million) are paying more for their S-20 and 26T than Indonesian ($340 million) did for their Korean Type 209 and they even got ToT.

Yes, Chinese is not bad option if you want to increase your number and strenght quickly but putting all eggs in one basket is certainly a bad idea. The Rohingya issue clearly taught us that.

Do you have a source to prove your point

Shipbuilding in Bangladesh - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[bluesky]

Tax waivers erodes 8.0pc of Bangladesh's tax-GDP ratio​

​

FE REPORT
Published :
Sep 06, 2021 03:09 PM
Updated :
Sep 20, 2021 05:20 PM
Share this news



Tax exemptions are eroding 8.0 per cent from Bangladesh's tax-GDP ratio, but the government's revenue authority says it is necessary to spur economic growth.

Bangladesh's tax-GDP ratio is one of the lowest in the region.

The NBR chief said they were not frustrated over the ratio as the tax waivers fall within fiscal policy in the current budget with the greater goal of higher consumption by well-off middle-class people.

The country's tax-GDP ratio is currently below 9.0 per cent which could have been 17 per cent if the government refrained from offering exemption, admitted NBR chairman Abu Hena Md Rahmatul Muneem.

"We are not frustrated or concerned over the poor tax-GDP ratio of the country as our calculation before this year's national budget found that reason," the National Board of Revenue chairman said at a press briefing on the NBR premises.

Some 8.0 per cent of the total revenue collected from customs wing is being lost in the form of tax exemptions, he added.

The country's achievement on education, health, infant mortality is better than other neighbouring countries for giving tax exemption in relevant sectors.

He said fiscal policy for the current year's budget has been devised keeping in consideration increased consumption by middle-income group of people.

"To reduce import-dependency for the goods mainly consumed by middle-income group, the revenue board has offered a wide range of tax exemption to popularize 'Made in Bangladesh' slogan," he added.

Waiver for home-appliance manufacturers would help in the growth of domestic industry, he said for an instance regarding the shift in economic pivot during the corona crisis that squeezed external trade worldwide.

"We won't let other countries target our middle-class consumers (with their products)," he said.
The tax-benefit has been offered for a longer period to facilitate investors in framing their future plans, he noted.

Responding to a query, the NBR chairman said taxmen would not go for any harsh measure for people who have Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) but did not submit tax returns in compliance with the law.

Although tax-return submission made mandatory for all TIN-holders, taxpayers have yet to get habituated to doing this, he said about the logic behind leniency.

"Not enforcement but awareness would get priority. If it does not work, later they would be brought under law," he added.

He said the government has yet to decide whether it would organize income-tax fair this year on a large scale.

In case of not holding tax fairs, the tax zones will arrange tax fair-like environment on their respective premises like in previous years.

On lottery for Electronic Fiscal Device (EFD), he said mass campaign and awareness is imperative to make it successful as people are not claiming the prizes (on account of paying value-added tax).

Although the NBR has decided to honour 100 consumers on their EFD invoices, it could hand over prizes to less than 20 persons in a month during the last eight lotteries.

NBR member of VAT wing Dr Abdul Mannan Sikder said the lottery programme is gaining momentum gradually. Daily more than 80,000 invoices through EFDMS are being generated.
"Feedback of EFDMS is encouraging and we are planning to honour some businesses with certificates of appreciation next month for using EFDMs," he said.

The NBR chairman said they are thinking about some alternatives to ensure VAT collection from retail businesses.

Director-General of NBR research and statistics wing Md Anwar Hossain gave a detailed presentation on 'Revenue Mobilization Work-plan' of the NBR at the programme.

He said revenue collection had grown 500 per cent in the last thirteen years of the present government's rule.

In FY 2008-09, the NBR collected revenue worth Tk 525.27 billion that jumped to Tk 2.59 trillion in FY 2020-21.

doulot_akter@yahoo.com

Tax waivers erodes 8.0pc of Bangladesh's tax-GDP ratio

Tax exemptions are eroding 8.0 per cent from Bangladesh's tax-GDP ratio, but the government's revenue authority says it is necessary to spur economic growth. Bangladesh's tax-GDP ratio is one of the lowest in the region. The NBR chief said they were not frustrated over the ratio as the tax waiv

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/trade/tax-exemption-on-ict-sector-likely-to-be-extended

 

[Homo Sapiens]

I am confused. If your naval assets including submarines are destroyed then how do you plan to rapidly deploy your subs which are already destroyed? And what made you think you can't rapidly deploy Turkish or German subs like Chinese sub? What does it even mean? Naval assets including submarines will already be put on high alert and patrol duty if there's tension with out neighbors.

I was talking about wartime military supply. Even if our equipment get desroyed, trained manpower will ensure that, if equipment is resupplied from the source country, it can be readily put into action. Think about Ukrainian problem of operating Western military equipment because they were trained to operate Soviet equipment. This is why American were lobbying Poland and other Eastern European countries to provide Ukraine Mig-29, instead of supplying F-16. In case of naval hostility with India, we can count Chinese help much more than any other country. China's massive existing fleet and much higher production capabilities have no match, nor the strategic consideration for Bay of Bengal. China can always spare some of it's equipment to provide other on a short notice than any other country in the world bar USA. If you get Submarine from Germany or Turkey, you can not hope to bolster or replenish your equipment in a crisis situation.

 

[The Ronin]

I was talking about wartime military supply. Even if our equipment get desroyed, trained manpower will ensure that, if equipment is resupplied from the source country, it can be readily put into action. Think about Ukrainian problem of operating Western military equipment because they were trained to operate Soviet equipment. This is why American were lobbying Poland and other Eastern European countries to provide Ukraine Mig-29, instead of supplying F-16. In case of naval hostility with India, we can count Chinese help much more than any other country. China's massive existing fleet and much higher production capabilities have no match, nor the strategic consideration for Bay of Bengal. China can always spare some of it's equipment to provide other on a short notice than any other country in the world bar USA. If you get Submarine from Germany or Turkey, you can not hope to bolster or replenish your equipment in a crisis situation.

You got it totally wrong. That's not how it works. Ukraine is completely different case.