Chittagong: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said two submarines will be added to the fleet of Bangladesh Navy by mid next year to turn it into a three-dimensional force.

Sheikh Hasina said this while addressing the President Parade  marking the passing out of Midshipman-2014/A and DEO 2015/B batches of Bangladesh Naval Academy held at the academy parade ground in Chittagong.

The Prime Minister said setting up of a submarine base and its related infrastructure is underway, while the construction work on the country’s biggest naval base with aviation facilities has begun at Rabnabad in Patuakhali.

A total of 53 midshipmen, including one from Sri Lanka, and 24 Direct Entry Officers (DEO) got commission this year.

On the occasion a parade, participated by midshipmen of passing out batches and different contingents of the navy, was arranged. The Prime Minster reviewed the smartly turned out parade and took salute.

She also distributed awards among the best midshipmen or their outstanding performance in the academy. The Midshipmen and the Direct Entry Officers took oath.

Midshipman Fahim Uddin Sakib adjudged as the best midshipman and received the ‘Sword of Honour’ while acting sub lieutenant M Rehanurzaman received the Shahid Moazzem Padak for best academic result.

Midshipman Zahid Hossain Kabir got Bir Shrestha Shaheed Ruhul Amin Gold Medal while Midshipman M Reazul Islam received Naval Chief Gold Medal for acquiring highest standard in professional and educational subjects.

Sheikh Hasina urged the newly commissioned officers of Bangladesh Navy to give the country’s interest above the personal interest and uphold the image of the nation and force. ‘You’ll have to remain always ready to make any kind of sacrifice.’

The Prime Minister said the construction work on Bangabandhu Complex with modern facilities is underway at the Naval Academy, while two corvette ships-‘Pratya’ and ‘Swadhinata’ - are being made in China, and a US-made frigate ‘Samudra Abhijan’ would be inducted in Bangladesh Navy next month.

Besides, the government has undertaken a plan to establish a museum named ‘Bijoy Taranga’ on the confluence of the Karnaphuli River.

Referring to the settlement of maritime boundary disputes with neighbouring countries, the Prime Minister said it has created opportunities for Bangladesh to tap huge sea resources across 1,18,813 square kilometre area in the sea.