For many years India is asking Bangladesh to buy its defense equipment. In 2017 India offered Bangladesh USD 500 million defense credit. Bangladesh Armed Forces seem to have little interest to use it. In 2019 visit of Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina to India – Bangladesh India signed a memorandum of Understanding to share Coastal Surveillance Intelligence. While the Indian press reported, ” India will install a 24 radar systems in Bangladesh” . There is no way Bangladesh Armed forces or Government will allow any foreign-controlled military establishment in Bangladesh nor any binding pact was signed in this regard. Bangladeshi forces will not accept any offers from foreign countries that are detrimental to the national security of Bangladesh or hamper its operations.
Bangladesh to Set Up its own Coastal Surveillance System
Under forces Goal 2030 Bangladesh government undertook a Coastal management System project for Bangladesh Navy back in 2016. At present, Bangladesh Navy operates the coastline surveillance by its land-based radar , under the PMW 740 international C4I Program with the assistance of the US Navy Pacific Command. US Navy supports satellite image sharing and VHF radio system in Bangladesh’s coastal surveillance. The system is working on Coastline Surveillance by coordinating the navigation between different ships and ground-based radars.
Economic Zone (EEZ) of 200 nautical miles into the sea.
12 Million Dollar For Coastal Surveillance System
Coastal Surveillance System (CSS) is a system employing all the necessary features to provide Navy & Coastguard with real-time information in a coastal area to ensure security over the entire Coastline. Bangladesh’s coastline is only 580 kilometers. A NATO standard Costal surveillance system (CSS ) costs around 12 million dollars to cover 508 KM Coastline. what is a tiny amount compared to many Bangladeshi small development projects.
Coastal Surveillance System to stop Drugs Trafficking
Every year more than $600 Million worth of Methamphetamine based drug ” Yaba ” enters Bangladesh by Coastal Area. A CSS system provides accurate detection, tracking, and identification of small and high-speed targets under the surveillance zone, which is important for Bangladesh to counter drug trafficking. India was interested in delivering Bangladesh its radar System. But Bangladesh, Navy & Coastguard prefer proven western CSS system for its coastal surveillance. Those western systems have over-the-horizon radars, mobile surveillance vehicles, operator workstations, AIS equipment, weather stations, and cameras. Those Costal Surveillance systems can provide Bangladesh Navy & Coast Guard with real-time data on any activities occurring in a surveillance zone. Multiple sensors with automatic identification system (AIS), Ground-Based Radar, tracking instantly detects even the smallest targets.
Work In Progress
The long coastline and age-old tradition of sea navigation in Bangladesh have led to a relatively strong development of maritime services that support the sea trade and sea transport function. More than 94% of Bangladesh’s external freight trade is seaborne. According to the Bangladesh Navy plan, a Coastal surveillance system will be set up in the Bangladesh coastline by 2025, under which the area will be directly accessible to ground-based surveillance up to 300 km from Bangladesh Coast Line.
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