Uphold sovereignty of maritime territory: CA

---

CHITTAGONG, July 12 (UNB): Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed has urged the members of naval force to always remain alert to uphold the sovereignty of maritime territory, curb smuggling and piracy, and ensure security of sea route for movement of ships.
The chief adviser made the call while inaugurating the formal commissioning of frigate BNS Khalid Bin Walid at the naval jetty at Isa Khan Naval Base here Thursday morning.
The CA handed over commissioning foreman of the frigate to its Commanding Officer Captain Aminur Rahman.
He also unveiled the name plaque of BNS Khalid Bin Walid.
The BNS Khalid Bin Walid is a modern warship of Bangladesh Navy capable of fighting in all dimensions in the present and in the foreseeable future.
A milestone in BNS field of maritime warfare, the frigate is a multi-purpose combatant that can be effectively used for the anti-air, surface and anti-submarine warfare.
The ship has the capability to launch organic helicopter to cover a large area of operation.
In addition to the all dimensional combat roles, she is capable of performing all peacetime policing duties within the country's maritime zones.
Construction work of the frigate, with state-of-the-art technology, began on 11 March 1998 by Daewoo Shipyard of Republic of Korea.
The frigate was first commissioned on June 20 in 2001 as the BNS Bangabandhu in Bangladesh Navy.
The ship is being re-commissioned today for the active service in Bangladesh Navy as BNS Khalid Bin Walid. She is capable to counter three-dimensional threats.
The primary role of this ship in Bangladesh Navy will be surveillance of the country's exclusive economic zone.
She will also carry out various constabulary tasks in Bangladesh's sea area against maritime terrorism, environmental pollution and smuggling, and can also be deployed for search and rescue operation.
The chief adviser said his government assumed the office in last January in the backdrop of an uncertain and unstable situation.
Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Sarwar Jahan Nizam also spoke on the occasion.