Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said Bangladesh Coast Guard will be developed as a modern and time-fitting force to carry out its growing responsibility. “Our (its) responsibility will go up in future. Keeping eyes on it, we’ve our own thoughts that we’ll build this Coast Guard as a modern and time-befitting,” she said. The premier was addressing the commissioning ceremony of five locally made state-of-the-art vessels of Bangladesh Coast Guard (BCG) at BCG Patenga Berth in Chattogram through a videoconferencing from her official residence Ganabhaban here in the capital. PM Hasina commissions five modern Coast Guard vessels The five commissioned vessels are two inshore patrol vessels named 'BCGS Apurba Bangla’ and 'BCGS Joy Bangla,' two tugboats named 'BCGT Pratyay' and 'BCGT Pramatta' and a floating crane named 'BCGFC Shakti.' The two inshore patrol vessels were built by state-owned Dockyard and Engineering Works Limited in Narayanganj, while two tugboats and the floating crane were made by the Khulna Shipyard. Hasina said her government added 154 modern and faster ships and vessels of various sizes to the Coast Guard fleet in the last 14 years since 2009. Besides, 4 offshore patrol vessels (OPVs), and 10-meter and 20-meter modern rescue boats from Japan were added to the BCG fleet, she said, adding that a dockyard is also being constructed at Ghazaria for the construction, repair and maintenance of Coast Guard ships and vessels. “Bangladesh Coast Guard will rise to a new level of self-sufficiency or capability if ships are built at its own yard,” she said. PM to brief media on the outcome of her Switzerland visit on Wednesday  The PM said an initiative has been taken to install the digital connectivity between the Coast Guard and Bangabandhu Satellite-1 aiming to bring a revolutionary change in the BCG communication system in the deep sea for national interest and security, and safety of people's life and property. Besides, drone technology has been added to Bangladesh Coast Guard to ensure the security to the forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals in Bhasanchar, she said. Noting that there is a huge potential of the country’s blue economy, Hasina said Bangladesh needs to utilize its sea resources and ensure security to the marine resources. So, the government has taken a plan to strengthen this force further by adding two more all-weather and deep-sea Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs), a hospital ship, a hovercraft and several high-speed vessels within the 2026-2030 period, she said. “The Coast Guard will have sufficient manpower and will be a mature, sophisticated and exemplary smart force from 2031 to 2041,” she added. The PM asked all the members of Bangladesh Coast Guard to uphold the image and dignity of their force by bearing the spirit of patriotism and performing their duty with honesty and integrity. Director General of Bangladesh Coast Guard Rear Admiral Ashraful Hoq Chowdhury, on behalf of the PM, handed over the commissioning forman (order) to the commissioning commanders of the five new vessels. Bangladesh won’t give in to any external pressure: PM Hasina says at SSF anniversary The premier unveiled the name plates of the new vessels added to the BCG fleet. The commissioning parade of the newly commissioned vessels took place. Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan and Senior Secretary of Public Security Division Mustafizur Rahman spoke at the commissioning ceremony, while BCG Director General Rear Admiral Ashraful Hoq Chowdhury delivered the welcome speech. The new vessels are equipped with ultramodern machinery, sensors and surveillance radar. The inshore patrol vessels have three automatic cannons, which will play a vital role in protecting ourselves and running operational activities. The vessels have surveillance capacity of 96 nautical miles and the cannons' range is 4 kilometers and the ships are able to identify anything like other vessels, criminals or enemies within this range while the cannons will help the BCG conduct operational activities smoothly. With the commission of the vessels, the operational activities of the BCG is expected to accelerate along with increase in the capacity to prevent stealing at commercial ships at the outer anchor, control human and drug trafficking through sea, patrol along the blue economy borders and conduct rescue operations in case of natural calamity and maritime accidents.  

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday said the Special Security Force (SSF) will be developed as a modern force amid the changing patterns of crimes with the advent of advanced technologies. “We can develop our lifestyle using modern technologies. But the criminals engaged in terrorism and militancy also can commit crimes of new patterns using the technologies at the same time,” Hasina said. She was addressing a special darbar (gathering) arranged, marking the 35th founding anniversary of the Special Security Force (SSF). Read: Plant more trees for greener future: Hasina The Prime Minister virtually joined the function at the Prime Minister’s Office through a videoconference from her official residence Ganobhaban. Noting that the science and technology create risks alongside creating scopes for people, she said, “This is why, we always try to equip this special force with modern training and enhance their efficiency regularly keeping pace with the modern age.” Hasina said the government has already created a scope for the members of this force to have training both at home and abroad. “We’re also creating greater scopes for this force.” Mentioning that the geopolitics and crime world constantly change, she said modern technologies are making life more dynamic and expanding the spheres of work (of the security forces) as the criminals and militants are also taking advantage of the advanced technologies. She said the terrorists and militants frequently change their strategies and resort to new types of crimes with the help of new technology.   Read: Model mosques to inspire all to understand essence of Islam: Hasina Hasina thanked the SSF members for providing security with utmost efficiency and sincerity to the visiting heads of state and government when they joined the 10-day celebration of the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman from March 17 to 26 last. SSF Director General Major General Md Majibur Rahman, in his welcome speech, raised the different activities of the force. At the function, the Prime Minister opened an e-book titled ‘Mujib-Bengali-Bangladesh’ which was edited by the SSF Director General. Maj Gen Md Majibur Rahman also handed over a cheque of Tk two crore to the Prime Minister as the donation from SSF to construct 100 houses for homeless families. On June 15, 1986, the Presidential Security Force (PSF) was formed, which was later renamed as Special Security Force (SSF) in 1991 following the restoration of the parliamentary government system in the country. Read: We expect UK to promote interests of climate vulnerable countries: Hasina Now the primary function of the elite force is to protect the President, the Prime Minister and other VIPs, though the force was originally intended to “provide physical security,” to the President and other VIPs, including any head of state or government or any person declared to be a VIP by the government. PM’s daughter Saima Wazed Hossain, PM’s Principal Secretary Dr Ahmad Kaikaus, PMO Secretary Md Tofazzel Hossain Miah and Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim were, among others, present from Ganobhaban.