| Bangladesh Navy | |
|---|---|
| বাংলাদেশ নৌবাহিনী Bāṅlādēś Nôubāhinī | |
 Crest of the Bangladesh Navy | |
| Founded | July 1971[citation needed] |
| Country |  Bangladesh |
| Type | Navy |
| Role | Naval warfare |
| Size | 22,000 personnel[1][2] 50 ships[3] 2 submarines 6 aircraft[4] |
| Part of |  Bangladesh Armed Forces |
| Naval Headquarters | Naval Headquarters (NHQ),Banani,Dhaka |
| Nickname | BN |
| Mottos | শান্তিতে সংগ্রামে সমুদ্রে দুর্জয় Śāntitē Sôṅgrāmē Sômudrē Durjôẏ ("In War and Peace Invincible at Sea") |
| Colors |
|
| Equipment | List of equipment of the Bangladesh Navy |
| Engagements | |
| Website | www |
| Commanders | |
| Commander-in-chief |  President Mohammed Sahabuddin |
| Chief of Naval Staff |  AdmiralMohammad Nazmul Hassan[5] |
| Insignia | |
| Flag | _Flag.svg) |
| Ensign |  |
| Jack |  |
| Roundel |  |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Helicopter | AW-109E Power |
| Patrol | Dornier 228NG |
| Reconnaissance | RQ-21 Blackjack[6] |
TheBangladesh Navy (Bengali:বাংলাদেশ নৌবাহিনী) is thenaval warfare branch of theBangladesh Armed Forces, responsible for the defence of Bangladesh's 118,813 square kilometres (45,874 sq mi) of maritime territorial area from any external threat, the security ofsea ports andexclusive economic zones ofBangladesh.[7] The Bangladesh Navy today is typically categorized as agreen-water navy both domestically and internationally.[8][9]
The Bangladesh Navy was created as part ofBangladesh Forces during Bangladesh's1971 liberation war against Pakistan. Its official creation date is July 1971 during theBangladesh Sector Commanders Conference 1971. In 1971, withWest Pakistan imposing a brutal military crackdown inEast Pakistan, the Bangladesh Liberation War was already underway. Many Bengali sailors and officers in thePakistan Navy defected to form the nascent Bangladesh Navy. Initially, there were two ships,PADMA andPALASH, and 45 navy personnel. On 9 November 1971, the first naval fleet, consisting of six smallpatrol vessels, was inaugurated.[10] These ships attempted to carry out raids on the Pakistani fleet, but were mistakenly hit and sunk by theIndian Air Force on 10 December 1971. The next major attack was launched onMongla seaport. According to official figures from the Bangladesh Navy, a total of 334 sailors were involved with the newly created navy, with 22 being killed in action.[11]
The navy carried out around 45 operations during the war: traditional naval operations and unconventionalcommando operations includingguerrilla warfare. In the first leg of the war, defectingBengali sailors joined the guerrilla forces. It was the eight sailors who defected from thePakistan Navy submarinePNS Mangro, under construction in France, that pioneered the formation of the naval element during the Liberation War. Later many other naval personnel participated. During the Liberation War, East Pakistan was divided into 11 sectors. Each sector had a commander and a demarcated area of responsibility except sector 10. Sector 10 was nominally responsible for the coastal belt but actually operated over the entire country.[12]
In 1971, it was imperative for the occupation force to keep ports and harbours operative and the sea lines of communication open. The Bangladesh Navy fought to block the sea lines of communication, and to make the sea and river ports inoperative. They attacked all the seaports including many river ports.Operation Jackpot is one of the best known and most successful operations. They carried outmining in thePasur River Channel by patrol craft. With other fighters they also carried out attacks against the Pakistan Army. As a result, Bangladesh became an independent state within the shortest possible time.[13]
After independence, especially in the 1970s, additional naval infrastructure was required. Two ex-Royal Navyfrigates joined the Bangladesh Navy asBNS Umar Farooq andBNS Ali Haider in 1976 and 1978 respectively. In 1982, a third ex-Royal Navy frigate joined the BN asBNS Abu Bakr. The acquisition of these three frigates is considered the principal foundation of the Bangladesh Navy.
In 2011, the Bangladesh Navy's rescue and medical team, along with the Bangladesh Army, was deployed to Japan after theTōhoku earthquake and tsunami.[14] The Bangladesh Navy has been an active disaster recovery force abroad. In 2013, the navy deployedBNS Somudra Joy carrying humanitarian assistance worth $1 million. The Bangladesh Navy's medical team was also deployed to thePhilippines.[15]
The Bangladesh Navy joined in the search operation for missingMalaysia Airlines Flight 370 withBNS Bangabandhu, BNSUmar Faruq and aDornier 228NG MPA in March 2014. The aircraft was aBoeing 777-200ER which had gone missing with 12 Malaysian crew members and 227 passengers from 14 nations during the flight fromMalaysia to China. Later, BNSUmar Farooq was replaced by BNSSomudra Joy. The search was renewed in May 2014, when an Australian exploration company claimed to have traced aircraft debris in theBay of Bengal.[16] In 2014, during the Water Crisis inMaldives, the Bangladesh Navy was the first to launch humanitarian aid relief by deploying BNSSomudra Joy with 100 tonnes of bottled water.[17]
In 2009, the Bangladesh government adopted a long-term modernisation plan for its armed forces calledForces Goal 2030. As of 2013,[update] about a third of the military hardware procured under the plan has been for the navy.[18] It procured two refurbishedType 053H2 (Jianghu III) frigates from China in 2014.[19] TwoUnited States Coast GuardHigh Endurance Cutters joined the BN in 2013[20] and 2015[21] which are being used as patrol frigates. Navy also bought an ex-Royal NavyRoebuck-classsurvey vessel and two ex-Royal NavyCastle-classoffshore patrol vessels (OPVs) which were converted toguided missile corvettes in 2011.[22] TwoType 056 corvettes joined the BN in 2016 while two more were ordered in July 2015 and they are awaiting commissioning.[23] TwoDurjoy-class large patrol craft (LPCs) were built in China and joined the BN in 2013.[24] Two more ships of the same class with dedicatedASW capabilities were commissioned in 2017.[25] FivePadma-class patrol vessels have been commissioned into the navy in 2013.[26][27][28] Besides, multiple indigenous builtLCUs andLCTs have been added to the navy. This marks a new chapter in maritime capability as part of the vision for a Smart Bangladesh by 2041.[1]
The Bangladesh Navy opened its aviation wing on 14 July 2011 with the induction of twoAgustaWestland AW109helicopters. Later on, two Dornier 228NG MPA were introduced in 2013.[29] To attain underwater operational capabilities, the Bangladesh Navy inducted two off-the-shelfType 035G (Ming class) submarines from China on 12 March 2017.[30][31]
Bangladesh Navy, with its growing fleet comprising more than 100 small and large ships across different classes, is successfully producing cost-effective world-class warships within its borders. The naval force of Bangladesh is continually strengthening its maritime capabilities through expansion efforts.[32]
A new base for the Bangladesh Navy, namedBNS Sher-e-Bangla, is being constructed at Rabanabad inPatuakhali. It will be the largest naval base of the Bangladesh Navy with submarine berthing and aviation facilities.[33] A full-fledged South Asian largest submarine base, namedBNS Pekua, was commissioned 19 March 2023 at Pekua inCox's Bazar.[34][35][36] A full-fledged naval base, namedBNS Dhaka, has been commissioned in Khilkhet,Dhaka. Dhaka naval area.[37]
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In 1993, the Bangladesh Navy joined United Nations Peacekeeping Operations.[38] Its first UN mission came in 2005, when a Bangladesh Navy contingent was sent toSudan as Force Riverine Unit (FRU).[39] The Bangladesh Navy joined theUnited Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in 2010, deploying two ships to theMediterranean Sea, frigateBNS Osman and patrol craftBNS Madhumati. They were replaced in June 2014 by frigateBNS Ali Haider and patrol craftBNS Nirmul. CorvetteBNS Bijoy took over from them in 2018, and was in turn replaced by corvetteBNS Sangram in 2020.[40]
BN ships regularly participate in exercises with other navies, gaining valuable experience and improving their fighting capabilities.CARAT is a yearly exercise conducted with theUnited States Navy in the Bay of Bengal since 2011.[41] The BN has sent an OPV to everyMILAN multinational naval exercise held near theAndaman Islands since 2010.[42]AMAN, another multinational exercise held every two years in theArabian Sea, organised by the Pakistan Navy, has also seen participation by BN frigates since 2009.[43] BNSBangabandhu participated inExercise Ferocious Falcon, a Multinational Crisis Management Exercise, held atDoha,Qatar in November 2012,[44] while BNSSomudra Joy participated the same exercise in 2015.[45]BNS Abu Bakr took part in14th Western Pacific Naval Symposium andInternational Fleet Review-2014 inQingdao,Shandong Province of China in April 2014.[46] She also participated inLangkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA-2015) held at Malaysia.[47]
| Somudro Ghurni (Sea Vortex) | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | Bangladesh NavyNaval exercise |
| Location | |
| Planned by | Naval Operations Branch |
| Objective | Deployment of Bangladesh Navy and Special Operation Forces. |
| Date | 16 November 2015 – 30 November 2015 |
| Executed by | RAdm M Khaled Iqbal, COMBAN |
Somudro Ghurni (Bengali:সমুদ্রঘূর্ণিEnglish:Sea Vortex) is the codename of a series of major naval exercises conducted by the Bangladesh Navy to simulate naval warfare and the protection of the country from external maritime threats, protection of the country's maritime resources, and prevention of smuggling.[48][49]
The exercise took place in the Bay of Bengal. It started on 16 November 2015 and lasted 15 days. During the exercise, the navy deployed most of its fleet, includingfrigates,corvettes, andmaritime patrol aircraft. The exercise includedsearch and rescue,logistical,maritime patrol,landing, andwarfare exercises. During the exercise, the Navy successfully test launched missiles.[50]
Bangladesh Navy (BN) has its headquarters atBanani, Dhaka.[51][52] According to theConstitution of Bangladesh, thepresident of Bangladesh is the commander-in chief of Bangladesh Armed Forces. TheChief of Naval Staff (CNS), a four-staradmiral,[53] is the highest admiral, directs the non-combat and combatant operations from the Naval Headquarters (NHQ) in Dhaka. The headquarters has four branches: operations (O), personnel (P), material (M) and logistics (Log). Each branch is headed by officers who are titled as principal staff officer (PSO) and known as assistant chief of naval staff (ACNS), e.g., ACNS (O). Under each PSO there are various directorates headed by directors with the rank ofcommodore orcaptain. Under each director there are deputy directors (DD) and staff officers (SO).The Bangladesh Navy has ten major combatant command, each command is commanded by arear admiral or commodore, who directly reports to Chief of Naval Staff.[54][55]
| Appointment | Rank & Name | Star Plate |
|---|---|---|
| Chief of Naval Staff | AdmiralMohammad Nazmul Hassan, OSP, NPP |  |
| Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Operations) | Rear AdmiralMohammad Musa, OSP, NPP, PhD |  |
| Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Personnel) | Rear AdmiralMir Ershad Ali, OSP, NPP | |
| Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Materiel) | Rear Admiral Niyamat Elahee, NPP | |
| Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Logistics) | Rear Admiral Zohir Uddin, NUP | |
| Appointment | Rank & Name | Star Plate |
|---|---|---|
| Commander Dhaka Naval Area | Rear Admiral Abdullah Al Maksus, NBP, NGP | |
| Commander Chittagong Naval Area | Rear Admiral Mohammad Moinul Hassan, BSP | |
| Commander Khulna Naval Area | Rear Admiral A K M Jakir Hossain, ndc, afwc, psc | |
| Commander Bangladesh Navy Fleet | Rear Admiral Mushtaque Ahmed | |
| Commandant Naval Training & Doctrine Command | Rear Admiral Mohammad Maksud Alam, BSP, NUP | |
| Area Superintendent Dockyard | Rear Admiral Ruhul Minhaz, OSP | |
| Commander Flotilla West | Commodore Mohammed Faizul Hoque, (C), NGP, ndc, psc, BN |  |
| CommodoreBangladesh Naval Aviation | Commodore Mia Mohammad Naim Rahman | |
| Commander Submarine | Commodore Syed Shaif-Ul Islam, BSP | |
| Chief Hydrographer | Commodore Sheikh Firoz Ahmed, NGP | |
| CommodoreSpecial Warfare Diving and Salvage Command | Commodore Mostafizur Rahman, NGP | |
| Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Bangladesh Navy[56] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | ||||||||||
| এ্যাডমিরাল Aeḍmirāl | ভাইস এ্যাডমিরাল Bhā'is aeḍamirāl | রিয়ার এ্যাডমিরাল Riẏār aeḍamirāl | কমোডোর Kômōḍōr | ক্যাপ্টেন Kaepṭēn | কমান্ডার Kômānḍār | লেফটেন্যান্ট কমান্ডার Lēphṭēnānṭ kômānḍār | লেফটেন্যান্ট Lēphṭēnānṭ | সাব-লেফটেন্যান্ট Sāb-lēphṭēnānṭ | এ্যাক্টিং সাব-লেফটেন্যান্ট Ēyākṭiṁ sāb-lēphṭēn'yānṭ | মিডশিপম্যান Miḍśipmaen | ||||||||||||||
| Rank group | Junior commissioned officers | Non-commissioned officer | Enlisted | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bangladesh Navy[56] |  |  |  |  |  | No insignia | No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| মাস্টার চীফ পেটি অফিসার Māsṭār chīph pēṭi ôphisār | সিনিয়র চীফ পেটি অফিসার Siniẏar chīph pēṭi ôphisār | চীফ পেটি অফিসার Chīph pēṭi ôphisār | পেটি অফিসার Pēṭi ôphisār | লিডিং সীম্যান Liḍiṁ sīmaen | এ্যাবল সীম্যান Ēyābal sīmaen | অর্ডিনারী সিম্যান Ôrḍinārī simaen | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Serial & Branch | Seaman | Communication | Mechanical | Secretariat | Supply | Electrical | Radio Electrical | Regulating | Medical |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | OD (Ordinary Seaman) | RO(G)-II | ME II | WTR II (Writer II) | SA II (Store Assistant II) | EN II | REN II | PM II (Patrol Man II) | MA II (Medical Assistant II) |
| 02 | AB (Able Seaman) | RO(G)-I | ME I | WTR I (Writer I) | SA I (Store Assistant I) | EN I | REN I | PM I (Patrol Man I) | MA I (Medical Assistant I) |
| 03 | LS (Leading Seaman) | LRO(G) | LME | LWTR | LSA | LEN | LREN | LPM (Leading Patrol Man) | LMA |
| 04 | PO (Petty Officer) | PORS(G) | ERA-IV | PO(W) {Petty Officer(Writer)} | PO(S) {Petty Officer(Store)} | EA-IV | REA-IV | PO(R) {Petty Officer(Regulating)} | PO(Med) {Petty Officer(Medical)} |
| 05 | CPO (Chief Petty Officer) | CRS(G) | ERA-I/II/III | CPO(W) {Chief Petty Officer(Writer)} | CPO(S) {Chief Petty Officer(Store)} | EA-I/II/III | REA-I/II/III | MAA (Master at Arm) | CPO(Med) {Chief Petty Officer(Medical)} |
| 06 | SCPO (Senior Chief Petty Officer) | SCPO(COM) | SCPO(E) {Senior Chief Petty Officer(Engineering)} | SCPO(W) {Senior Chief Petty Officer(Writer)} | SCPO(S) {Senior Chief Petty Officer(Store)} | SCPO(L) {Senior Chief Petty Officer(Electrical)} | SCPO(R) {Senior Chief Petty Officer(Radio Electrical)} | SCPO(Reg) {Senior Chief Petty Officer(Regulating)} | SCPO(Med) {Senior Chief Petty Officer(Medical)} |
| 07 | MCPO (Master Chief Petty Officer) | MCPO(COM) | MCPO(E) {Master Chief Petty Officer(Engineering)} | MCPO(S) {Master Chief Petty Officer(Supply)} | MCPO(S) {Master Chief Petty Officer(Supply)} | MCPO(L)/CEA {Master Chief Petty Officer(Electrical)} | MCPO(R)/CREA {Master Chief Petty Officer(Radio Electrical)} | MCPO(Reg){Master Chief Petty Officer(Regulating)} | MCPO(Med) {Master Chief Petty Officer(Medical)} |
| 08 | Honorary Sub Lieutenant(X) | Honorary Sub Lieutenant(COM) | Hon S Lt(E) | Hon S Lt(S) | Hon S Lt(S) | Hon S Lt(L) | Hon S Lt(R) | Hon S Lt(Reg) | Hon S Lt(W/M) |
| 09 | Honorary Lieutenant(X) | Honorary Lieutenant(COM) | Hon Lt(E) | Hon Lt(S) | Hon Lt(S) | Hon Lt(L) | Hon Lt(R) | Hon Lt(Reg) | Hon Lt(W/M) |
| Dhaka[57] | Chittagong | Khulna | Barisal |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
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TheBangladesh Naval Academy is the home of naval cadets to be the future officers of Bangladesh Navy. The academy provides education, athletic and military training to the naval cadets. The academy also offers training programs to the officers of allied navies including navy personnel fromQatar,Sri Lanka,Maldivian andPalestinian Navy.[58][59] Naval Training and Doctrine Command in Barishal is also the premier institute for Naval officers.
As of November 2025, The Bangladesh Navy has five Guided Missile Frigates,[60][61] two patrol frigates, six Corvettes, thirty-eight minor surface combatants of various types (including patrol vessels, missile boats, and mine hunters), and thirty auxiliaries as surface assets. Submarine branch is equipped with two diesel-electric attack submarines. The naval aviation wing operates bothfixed-wing aircraft androtorcraft.[62] The navy also maintain a special operations force namedSWADS.
The Bangladesh Navy's submarine force was established with the commissioning of two refurbishedType 035G (Ming class) submarines on 12 March 2017.[63][64]
| Type | Number | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel-electric attack submarine | 2 | They carry 57 personnel and 16 Torpedoes with an option of loading 32 mines as well. |
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| Type | Number of ships | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Frigate | 7 | Two of these are patrol frigates. |
| Corvette | 6 | [65] |
| Large patrol craft | 5 | |
| Offshore patrol vessel | 5 | |
| Inshore patrol vessel | 12 | |
| Fast attack craft-missile | 4 | Rearmed with C-704 AShM. |
| Fast Attack craft-ASW | 4 | |
| Fast attack craft-gun | 5 | |
| Minesweeper | 5 | Mainly used as offshore patrol vessels. |
| Survey ship | 2 | |
| Amphibious warfare | 15 | |
| Repair ship | 1 | |
| Tanker | 2 | |
| Floating dock | 1 | |
| Auxiliaries | 11 | |
| Dive Boat | 3 |
| Name | Type | Range | Origin | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Otomat Mk 2 Block IV[66] | Anti-ship missile | 180 km[67][68] |  Italy | |
| C-802A[66][69] | Anti-ship missile | 180 km |  People's Republic of China | |
| C-704[66] | Anti-ship missile | 35 km | People's Republic of China | |
| FM-90N[66] | Surface-to-air missile | 15 km | People's Republic of China | |
| FL-3000N[66] | Surface-to-air missile | 9 km | People's Republic of China | |
| Yu-4[66] | Torpedo | 6 km (original) at 30 knots (56 km/h), 15 km (upgraded) at 40 knots (74 km/h) | People's Republic of China | |
| A244-S | Torpedo | 13.5 km | Italy |
_during.jpg)
Bangladesh has made a long term modernisation plan for its Armed Forces namedForces Goal 2030.[72] The plan includes the modernization and expansion of all equipment and infrastructures and providing enhanced training.[72] Bangladesh Navy is setting up a new base at Rabanabad inPatuakhali namedBNS Sher-e-Bangla, which will be the largest naval base of the country. The base will have submarine berthing and aviation facilities.[33] A separate submarine base namedBNS Pekua, is under construction at Pekua inCox's Bazar.[36] The construction works of a fleet headquarters at the Sandwip channel of Chittagong with ship berthing facilities is already going on.[73]
Khulna Shipyard, with the collaboration of China'sHudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding, built fivepadma-class patrol vessels that entered navy service in 2013. In December 2019, they laid the keels for a further five, four of which had been delivered to the navy by February 2024.[74][75] The navy commissioned two survey ships built by Khulna Shipyard, theBNSDarshak andBNSTallashi, on 5 November 2020.[76] The same shipyard delivered two survey boats to the navy in October 2021.[77]
BN has issued two tenders for the procurement of four helicopters with anti-submarine warfare (ASW), anti-surface vessel warfare (ASuW), over-the-horizon targeting (OTHT), maritime search and rescue (MSAR), medical evacuation (MEDEVAC), casualty evacuation (CASEVAC) and special mission capabilities.[78][79] Contract has been signed for twomaritime patrol aircraft on 27 March 2017.[citation needed]
Bangladesh Navy issued a tender for the supply of Technical Data Link (TDL) system. The system will connect 16 platforms as 2 frigates, 4 corvettes, 1 LPC, 3 shore stations, 2 helicopters, 2 MPAs and two submarines.[80] In April 2018, Bangladesh Navy issued tender for two X-band navigational radars with helicopter landing control facility for two of its ships.[81] At the same time, another tender was issued for replacing two 40 mmFast Forty guns on-boardBNS Bangabandhu with new 40 mm twin-barrel gun system.[82]
In December 2019, the prime minister discussed about the past, present and future development programs for the Bangladesh Navy at the winter passing out parade of theBangladesh Naval Academy. She told that the process is going on for procuring morecorvettes,minesweepers, oceanographic research ship and sail training ship. Process ofconstructing six frigates atChittagong Dry Dock in collaboration with foreign shipbuilders is also going on. Government has taken initiative for making missiles andIdentification friend or foe system in Bangladesh. She added that, there is a plan to induct more maritime patrol aircraft,anti-submarine warfarehelicopters andlong range MPA in the near future.[83]
Media related toBangladesh Navy at Wikimedia Commons
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