PM asks BCG members to carry out its growing responsibility

Prime Minister (PM) Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said Bangladesh Coast Guard (BCG) will be developed as a modern and time-fitting force to carry out its growing responsibility, reports UNB.

"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 BCG at BCG Patenga Berth in Chattogram through a videoconferencing from her official residence Ganabhaban in the capital. 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-metre and 20-metre 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.

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.