Chief of Army Staff General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed has inaugurated the Army Aviation Forward Base of Bangladesh Army in Chittagong.
The army set up the forward base to provide air support to the Chittagong Hill Tracts and Cox's Bazar areas with reduced costs of operations, said a media release by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
Senior Army, Navy and Air Force officials and media personnel attended the inauguration ceremony held at Chittagong Shah Amanat Airport on Monday.
At the program, two Bell 407 GXi helicopters made by the US were also inducted as the new addition to the aviation fleet.
At the event, Chief of Army Staff General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed said: “Army Aviation Group is a specialized group of the Bangladesh Army. The main goal of the organization is to provide direct air support to the military's operational activities.”
He said: “With government’s approval, two separate aviation bases were set up at Lalmonirhat and Chittagong to provide assistance to the army personnel deployed in remote areas of the country. The newly constructed hangar complex of Army Aviation School has already been inaugurated on March 3, 2020 at Lalmonirhat Cantonment.”
About the newly added helicopters, the army chief said these will enhance the efficiency of the Bangladesh Army significantly.
The helicopters will play an important role in training the new pilots of Army Aviation, and conducting various missions like search and surveillance from aircraft and scout helicopters.
Army Aviation Forward Base inaugurated in Chittagong
Two Bell 407 GXi helicopters inducted to the aviation fleet of the army
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