Bangladesh buys two submarines from China

[Syed1]

Bangladesh took delivery on Monday of its first submarines, bought from China, as it seeks to boost its naval power in the Bay of Bengal.

Bangladesh paid a reported $203 million for the two submarines, a deal that reflects the country's growing economic and defence ties with Beijing.

Armed forces spokeswoman Taposhi Rabeya said they would become part of the country's naval fleet at the beginning of next year.

“This is the first ever addition of submarines in Bangladesh defence force,” she told AFP.

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

In 2013 the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina signed a billion-dollar deal with Russia to buy fighter training jets, helicopters and anti-tank missiles.

Hasina announced the plan to purchase two submarines the same year as part of her government's move to build a modern navy to defend the resource-rich Bay of Bengal.

A UN 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.

Bangladesh officials say that has ensured the country's sovereignty over 111,631 square kilometres of sea, an area nearly equal to its landmass.

Xi Jinping last month became the first Chinese president in 30 years to visit Bangladesh, which has historically been more closely allied to rival regional power India.

http://www.dawn.com/news/1296315/bangladesh-buys-two-submarines-from-china

 

[Syed1]

China tightening the noose around India

 

[Syed1]

Now that Saudi, Qatar and Bahrain have reportedly shown interest in purchasing the JF-17 (in large quantities I may add), BD should also look at inducting the jet.

 

[Dios]

I hope Bangladesh doesn't fall into this trap of ever-increasing defence spending and this game of oneupmanship which has consumed its neighbours. Ultimately it's just a waste of money for any country in which poverty is still widespread. The money can be better spent on education and infrastructure to boost the country's production frontier.

Having said that the Bay of Bengali is rich in resources especially natural gas, the exact amount of which hasn't yet been determined. Bangladesh has just won two international maritime disputes with India and Myanmar in international courts over rights to these waters and they need to protect their territory and guard against possible transgressions.

 

[Dios]

Like I noted earlier, slowly but surely Bangladesh is cosying up to China overlooking the events of the past. Even Hasina who has been India's staunchest ally seems to realise that China can do much more for Bangladesh than India ever can. This might actually lead India to be fairer to Bangladesh with regards to water sharing and other issues in order to keep the country under its influence.

 

[Saeed]

Now that Saudi, Qatar and Bahrain have reportedly shown interest in purchasing the JF-17 (in large quantities I may add), BD should also look at inducting the jet.

Saudis have money and can get better jets from Western countries. Why would they want JF-17?

 

[PakLFC]

So Gwadar Port is now fully functional making China and Pakistan so very interested in each other's affairs. Now the Chinese are arming Bangladesh as well! Modi, you watching??

 

[KingKhanWC]

Russia and China will be hoping or creating more tension between Bangladesh and it's neighbours to increase their military spending. A lovely new customer they have now.

 

[Syed1]

Saudis have money and can get better jets from Western countries. Why would they want JF-17?

They already have better jets like the F-15SE and EFT Typhoon, but those planes are expensive to operate, dollar per minute of flight is significantly larger for those planes compared to the JF-17. Also the US Senate recently passed legislation against Saudi and there might be a scenario in which the Western countries stop giving weapons to Saudis. They won't be able to keep those planes in the air for long if that happens.

Hence the need for the Thunder.