Bangladesh's new submarine base, built with Chinese help, should alarm India

[Black_cats]

Bangladesh's new submarine base, built with Chinese help, should alarm India​

By Girish LingannaFirst Published Mar 25, 2023, 10:04 AM IST
HIGHLIGHTS
The construction of the new submarine base resulted from a pact inked between Bangladesh and China in September 2019, with the commencement ceremony in February 2021.

Bangladesh, on March 23, officially unveiled the nation's first submarine base called 'BNS Sheikh Hasina'. Located at Pekua in Cox's Bazaar, 'BNS Sheikh Hasina' was inaugurated by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Describing the facility as a 'state-of-the-art submarine base', Hasina emphasized its role in improving the naval force's ability to safeguard the nation's extensive maritime assets.

Furthermore, she noted that vessels traversing the Bay of Bengal might also benefit from the support provided by the base. The Prime Minister emphasized her administration's efforts to modernize the armed forces via the Forces Goal 2030 initiative and construct ships in domestic shipyards for both Bangladesh and other nations.

Additionally, she highlighted that the Bangladesh Navy has finished building five patrol vessels at the Khulna shipyard. Moreover, she pointed out that in the past 14 years, the Bangladesh Navy has incorporated 31 naval ships into its fleet, such as four frigates, six corvettes, four sizeable patrol vessels, five patrol vessels, and a pair of training ships.

The construction of the submarine base came as a result of a pact inked between Bangladesh and China in September 2019, with the commencement ceremony taking place in February 2021. The recently built submarine facility has the capacity to house six submarines and eight naval vessels simultaneously.

Strategic Importance

In 2016, Xi Jinping made history as the first Chinese president in three decades to pay a visit to Bangladesh, a nation that has traditionally held stronger ties with India.

Following Xi's trip, a pair of submarines were purchased from China, and Chinese specialists pledged to construct a submarine facility in Bangladesh. This development has raised significant worries for India, as per regional analysts.

Over the past few years, Bangladesh has enhanced its defence capacity by constructing a new airbase near its neighbour, Myanmar, establishing multiple new cantonments throughout the nation, and incorporating additional frigates into its naval fleet.

The global court has resolved Bangladesh's enduring maritime boundary conflicts with neighbouring countries Myanmar and India, enabling Dhaka to solicit proposals from international corporations for oil exploration in the Bay.

Authorities state that the agreement guarantees the nation's autonomy over 111,631 square kilometres of ocean, a territory almost equivalent to its land area.

Bangladesh is enhancing the Navy's capabilities to provide a more robust presence in safeguarding the nation's extensive maritime zones, abundant in natural resources. This also includes combating human trafficking and smuggling, guaranteeing the protection of fishermen, and facilitating secure transit for merchant vessels.

Easing Movement

In November of 2016, a pair of submarines -- BNS Navajatra and BNS Joyjatra -- joined the Bangladesh fleet, transforming the Bangladesh Navy into a comprehensive "three-dimensional" force in accordance with the nation's Forces Goals.

The two submarines belong to the 035G class, measuring 76 meters long and 7.6 meters wide, and are furnished with torpedoes and mines designed to target opposing naval vessels and submarines. According to authorities, the pair of Ming-class submarines are presently docked at the "BNS Issa Khan", which is situated within Chittagong's largest naval base for the Bangladeshi Navy.

Docking in the Karnaphuli River, which is encircled by the bustling Chittagong Port, presented challenges for the Navy, as the port's commercial activities had to be halted while the submarines were manoeuvring. Moreover, the submarines required a unique docking area and additional protective structures to safeguard them against aerial attacks.

In response to these requirements, the government chose to construct a submarine facility in collaboration with China. Implementing this plan was challenging for Bangladesh, as it is bordered by India and Myanmar, according to authorities.

 

[leonblack08]

Indian hypocrisy at it's best. They raise concern and fear when Bangladesh does defence deals with China, yet they have no problem donating their subs to Myanmar to bolster Burmese navy.

We need more Chinese subs in our navy. Just to keep the Indian dada giri in check.

 

[Abu Shaleh Rumi]

Good.

Now give teesta river development project to China too.

 

[bababho]

BDs waters are surrounded in all possible directions,
there is no way BD will be able to operate navy freely in a scenario of conflict with neighbours

 

[Imran Khan]

Indian hypocrisy at it's best. They raise concern and fear when Bangladesh does defence deals with China, yet they have no problem donating their subs to Myanmar to bolster Burmese navy.

We need more Chinese subs in our navy. Just to keep the Indian dada giri in check.

bhai seriously india care two 33 years old outdated submarines ? they just make a point . these submarines are more dangerous for crew work in them then india .

 

[Homo Sapiens]

BDs waters are surrounded in all possible directions,
there is no way BD will be able to operate navy freely in a scenario of conflict with neighbours

No, Indian territorial water or even combined India-Myanmar territorial water does not surround Bangladesh's territorial water. not even close. Look at this map, thick line represent territorial water of respective countries which extend upto 12 nautical miles from the coastline. A country reserves the right to deny other country's shipping only it's territorial water. Indian territorial water and Myanmar territorial water are far apart from each other. Thin line represent Exclusive Economic Zone(EEZ) which extend upto 200 nautical miles from coastline. Beyond that is high seas or international water.

Bangladesh's territorial water is directly connected with Bangladesh's Exclusive Economic Zone(EEZ) which is essentially international water. Same is also true for India, India's or Bangladesh's EEZ are international water where each respective countries have exclusive rights on economic activities like fishing and mining but they can't deny shipping of other countries. India and Myanmar can deny Bangladesh's shipping only it's territorial sea upto 12 nautical miles from their respective coastline. So, if India or Myanmar bans Bangladesh's shipping on it's territorial water, it will not make any difference.

Are submarines technically only allowed to navigate international waters and prohibited from entering foreign countries’ EEZ?

Answer (1 of 4): Let’s sort this out, because the question is a bit off. Countries have Economic Exclusion Zones (EEZ) where it’s illegal to conduct commercial activity without permission of the sovereign nation. Fishing, mining, etc are prohibited in EEZ. The EEZ is still considered “internatio...

www.quora.com

For argument's sake even if we assume India and Myanmar simultaneously deny Bangladesh access to their EEZ which they can't legally, still Bangladeshi ships will have access to international water because Bangladesh's EEZ share boundary with international water. So what you are saying is never possible in reality.

 

[Moonaman.Varavayi]

Fleet in Being

India is terrified of Bangladesh Navy's "Fleet in being":

 

[Tom-tom]

Fleet in Being

India is terrified of Bangladesh Navy's "Fleet in being":

Where's yours , is under water? Did your only and single air craft almost sink.

At least we have grasped the concepts the surface water vessel should float and have buyonacy.

 

[Homo Sapiens]

bhai seriously india care two 33 years old outdated submarines ? they just make a point . these submarines are more dangerous for crew work in them then india .

The writer probably meant about Chinese access or future more acquisition by Bangladesh from China. Afterall, why anyone should build a submarine base costing $1.21 billion just to house two old sumarine valued $200 million? BN has plan to operate six submarines by 2030.

BN crews are operating those Subs for six years without any incidence. Though they are 33 years old, but they have gone through extensive refitting before handing over to Bangladesh. The Submarine was free, the $200 million paid by Bangladesh was mostly for refitting and training costs. So those are not as bad and dangerous as you are assuming.

 

[Imran Khan]

The writer probably meant about Chinese access or future more acquisition by Bangladesh from China. Afterall, why anyone should build a submarine base costing $1.21 billion just to house two old sumarine valued $200 million? BN has plan to operate six submarines by 2030.

BN crews are operating those Subs six years now without any incidence. Though they are 33 years old, but they have gone extensive refitting before handing over to Bangladesh. The Submarine was free, the $200 million paid by Bangladesh was mostly refitting and training costs. So those are not as bad and dangeruous as you are assuming.

1.2bn$ base only ? WTH
and 200mn$ for refit ?

its seems massive corruption in it TBH .

 

[Homo Sapiens]

1.2bn$ base only ? WTH

What is the usual cost?

 

[Skull and Bones]

bhai seriously india care two 33 years old outdated submarines ? they just make a point . these submarines are more dangerous for crew work in them then india .

Its a diplomatic pressure tactic, gives us leeway to supply weapons to Burma.

Suffocated at Sea: Why a Chinese Submarine Crew Never Surfaced

The Chinese government is not disposed to transparency regarding its military accidents.

nationalinterest.org

 

[Imran Khan]

What is the usual cost?

The Ecuadorian government has given a contract worth $120 million for the refitting and upgrading of its two German-built Type 209/1300 submarines

Jinnah naval base cost pakistan 500mn$ it was build by joint belgium and turkish companies .

 

[Skull and Bones]

Where's yours , is under water? Did your only and single air craft almost sink.

The ship in the background cost more than the entire naval defense budget of bangladesh.

 

[Homo Sapiens]

Jinnah naval base cost pakistan 500mn$ it was build by joint belgium and turkish companies .

This base was built in 1994-2000 period, then 500 million Dollar had much more value than 2019-2023 period when Bangladeshi submarine base was built. And Jinnah Naval Base can provide berthing facilities to eight warships and four submarines at a time.

While, BNS Sheikh Hasina can provide berthing facilities to six submarines and eight warship at a time.

Plus, look at the terrain, Jinnah naval base was built in the desert, free of land cost. While in case of Bangladeshi submarine base, 800 acres land were acquired giving compensation to the land owners.

Moreover, BNS Sheikh Hasina also includes wharfs, barracks, munition depots, repair docks and various training centers which added to the costs. So, combining all these factors, $1.21 billion costs seems to be right.