Dhaka is purchasing two submarines from China in a deal that has portends of increasing militarisation of the Bay of Bengal. Beijing had asked for $203 million when two sides began final negotiations in November 2013, according to officials. Dhaka managed to reduce the submarines’ price by $10 million, or around Tk 80 crore, after bargaining with Beijing early this year as per a New Age Bangladesh report.
Dhaka has finally signed a deal with Beijing for the purchase of two submarines for $193 million. These submarines of Ming class will have capacity of firing anti-ship missiles from its torpedo tubes and are to be delivered in 2019 as per the New Age. Bangladesh Navy personnel are already carrying out submarine training in China as per reports.
The Ming class of Chinese submarines is an adaptation of the diesel or electric Romeo class submarine built by the Soviet Union, which in turn was based on the German Type XXI submarine of World War II. Reports indicate that Bangladesh will be purchasing the advanced version of Ming class submarine, Type 035G which has low acoustic signature with larger space for weaponry. The capability of the sub may be limited to coastal defence and surveillance possibly the task envisaged by Bangladesh Navy.
However in the medium to long term sale of Chinese Ming class submarine by China to Bangladesh will result in the induction of a new submarine power in the Indian Ocean region and more particularly in the Bay of Bengal.This sale would raise concerns given that the submarine will introduce new capability in the Bay of Bengal. But, given that the Ming class is seen to be a vintage sub, the Bangladesh Navy may have had a bad bargain from China.
The PLA Navy however will gain an entry into the Bay of Bengal. This is because, along with the submarine there would be attendant personnel including some from the People’s Liberation Army – Navy, who would be based in Kutubdia Island where the submarine fleet will harbour.
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