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Navy lacks proper representation in policymaking

Needs adequate funds for modernisation

Staff Correspondent
Bangladesh Navy feels ignored due to lack of its proper representation in the policymaking bodies of the government, including the ministries concerned and joint service organisations, according to a report placed before a parliamentary body.
In addition, inadequate allocation of funds and lack of rules of their engagement and opportunity to participate in the UN peacekeeping missions put the navy in a sorry state and the force has sought patronisation of parliament to overcome its limitations, sources said.
The navy, in its report placed before the parliamentary' standing committee on defence ministry on Monday, apprised the lawmakers of the problems it is facing while discharging massive responsibility to protect the national interests in sea, which is enriched with mineral resources.
The parliamentary body agreed with the navy to make the force more efficient.
"There is nothing unusual about the navy feeling ignored as almost all the previous governments did not give proper attention to the force," a member of the parliamentary body told The Daily Star, referring to a discussion with the navy officials on Monday.
"Navy conducts different activities at national and international level and actively participates in diplomatic activities through sending representatives to foreign naval ships. But it does not have proper representation in the armed forces division, ministries of defence, foreign affairs and shipping, and in different policymaking bodies of the government," said the report. "As a result, proper consideration and evaluation of the activities of the navy at the level of the (policymaking] organisations are either being hampered or being delayed," said the navy in its report.
It said as many as 884 army officials represent the army in different ministries concerned and joint service organisations while the navy has representation of only 177 officials in those bodies.
The navy recommended that the government should ensure its proper representation in the policymaking organisations.
Citing the lack of rules of engagement, the report said it is essential for a trained navy to have specific rules of engagement to prudently deal with the situation during a war or in a crisis moment.
"Due to the absence of such directives, naval ships engaged in the operational areas always remain in uncertainty," the report said, urging the government to formulate a national maritime policy.
About participation in the UN peacekeeping mission, the navy said only 1,309 members of the navy were sent to the UN missions while 2,131 members of the air force and 81,983 members of the army got such opportunities.
"The confidence level of many navy members is decreasing as they cannot join the UN peacekeeping missions," the report said.
About new purchase for the force, the navy said due procurement process was not completed over the years in the past. Now the navy is starting the task in full swing, said the report.
The navy also said it could not go ahead with the plan for its modernisation due to inadequate allocation of funds.
In fiscal 2008-09, the navy was allocated 16.10 percent of the total fund for defence forces while the army received 67.92 percent and the air force 15.98 percent, the report said.
"In fiscal 2007-08, the navy was allocated 12.86 percent of the total fund for defence forces while the army received 70 percent and the air force 16.76 percent."
In the two fiscal years, Navy was allocated Tk 898 crore and Tk 658 crore respectively for maintaining the force. For some major purchase, Tk 1,442 crore was required in 2008-09, but Tk 350 crore was allocated, said the navy report
Under such a situation, many are skeptical about the implementation of the navy's ten-year-long ambitious plans for its modernisation at an estimated cost ofTk 6,000 crore, sources said.
Bangladesh Navy was established in 1972 to keep secure Bangladesh's territorial waters, safeguard economic interest and exercise maritime control within the exclusive economic zone and the continental shelf and to protect Bangladesh shipping lines and its merchant fleets.
The force began its journey by setting up its headquarters at a rented house. It received two gunboats from India in 1973 and 1974. Two frigates were inducted into the naval fleet in 1976 and 1978 and some ships, both old and new, were procured from different countries in the 80's. Later, some more ships were inducted into the naval fleet. At present, there are 80 ships, both small and large, in the naval fleet. No ship has been added to the fleet since the induction of Bangabandhu frigate in 2001.