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The government has signed a deal with China for the purchase of two submarines at a cost of Tk 1500 crore. The Chinese army is presently using these two 24-year-old submarines. It is expected that Bangladesh Navy will take over these two submarines in 2018 after they are reconditioned.

The government reportedly plans to procure four submarines so that the navy can form a submarine squadron. A submarine operating authority will be formed to operate and maintain the submarines. An officer of the rear admiral rank will head this body. About 200 persons will be required for the submarine operations and several have already been trained for the purpose.

A member of the procurement committee on anonymity tells Prothom Alo, "China will supply two 035G model submarines in accordance to the agreement. The payment for these will be made over a period of five years, from 2013-14 till 2017-18. These will cost 20 crore 22 lakh US dollars or 1569 crore taka.

Considering how important it is for a less developed country to purchase submarines, Maj. Gen. (retd) Subed Ali Bhuiyan, chairman of the parliamentary standing committee for the defence ministry, says, "The decision to procure submarines was taken during the term of the BNP government. After the new government came to power, the parliamentary committee has held only one meeting. The issue of submarines hadn't been raised," He says he knows nothing about the matter.

The naval officers have no answer concerning the longevity of these old submarines, the cost of maintenance, and how these will strengthen the navy.

Dr. Iftekharuzzman, geo-political analyst and executive director of Transparency International Bangladesh, says, "We have no defence policy. It must be clarified on what basis we are making such a massive purchase. Transparency is very importance in such cases."

According to the UK-based weekly defence magazine Jane's,  type 035G model submarines were manufactured in 1985 and were officially launched in December 1990.

The submarine base will be established at the Kutibdia channel in Pekua upazila, Kutubdia.