Bangladesh News Bangladesh Coast Guard

[Isa Khan]

DHAKA, May 06, 2026 (BSS)- Bangladesh Coast Guard (BCG) will have advanced aerial surveillance system to strengthen maritime and coastal security.

As part of the plan, surveillance helicopters will be procured to enhance rapid monitoring, intelligence gathering, and immediate operational response across coastal and deep-sea areas, officials said.

They said home minister Salahuddin Ahmed recently announced that continued investments in modern vessels, drones, surveillance systems, and manpower will transform the Coast Guard into a fully modern maritime security force.

Acquisition of helicopters will significantly improve the force’s ability to combat drug smuggling, human trafficking, illegal fishing, and piracy, they said.

The helicopters are expected to be equipped with advanced sensors, radar systems, and real-time data transmission technology. The capability will allow authorities to quickly detect suspicious vessels and relay critical information to patrol ships and shore-based units, improving both the speed and accuracy of maritime operations.

In parallel, work is progressing for development of an integrated Maritime Surveillance System. The system will enable continuous digital monitoring of coastal waters, key shipping routes, and seaports.

By combining satellite technology, radar stations, drones, and aerial surveillance platforms under a central command structure, authorities aim to establish a comprehensive maritime security network.

Modernization efforts are already underway, with the Coast Guard introducing drone technology, offshore patrol vessels, fast patrol craft, and high-speed boats.

Experts believe that the addition of helicopters and integrated surveillance systems will help build an advanced Maritime Domain Awareness framework.

If successfully implemented, the initiative is expected to elevate the operational capacity of the Coast Guard to a stronger regional standard, enabling more efficient crime prevention, disaster management, and search and rescue operations across the Bay of Bengal.

Officials said the present government is firmly committed to the overall development of the Bangladesh Coast Guard. As part of its modernization, three surveillance drones along with a ground control station have recently been inducted into the fleet of the Bangladesh Coast Guard.

With funding support from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA, the construction of one multi-role response vessel and two offshore patrol vessels is progressing rapidly.

In addition, a contract has recently been signed through Khulna Shipyard for the procurement of bulletproof high-speed boats, which, once inducted, will further strengthen the maritime security of Bangladesh’s coastline.

A plan has also been undertaken to establish a modern dockyard in Gazaria, Munshiganj for the repair and maintenance of Coast Guard vessels.

A project is underway to replace nine outdated ships with nine new patrol vessels to be constructed in local shipyards.

The manpower of the force will be increased to around 10,000 personnel.

Once these modern vessels and advanced systems are integrated, the operational capability of the Coast Guard is expected to increase significantly compared to any previous period, force sources said.

Coast Guard to get helicopter for surveillance | Special Stories

DHAKA, May 06, 2026 (BSS)- Bangladesh Coast Guard (BCG) will have advanced aerial surveillance system to strengthen maritime and coastal

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[Isa Khan]

The ongoing conflict in Myanmar's Rakhine state and the need for surveillance and emergency operations in sea and coastal areas to increase security along the Bangladesh border have increased. Apart from this, the government has decided to purchase two medium-sized Maritime Search and Rescue (MSAR) helicopters for the Bangladesh Coast Guard for post-natural disaster rescue operations and other operational activities. An estimated 500 crore rupees will be spent for this.

Two helicopters will be purchased in three fiscal years with phased payments. The assistance of Bangladesh Navy will be taken in operation and maintenance of Coast Guard's own aviation unit till it is fully prepared. The administrative process of purchasing the two helicopters based on the proposal of the Coast Guard Headquarters has already been completed. On June 23, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed approved this proposal. Under the revenue budget there is a plan to meet the expenditure from the ‘aircraft purchase’ sector.

Home Ministry officials say the ongoing conflict in Rakhine state has made the Bangladesh-Myanmar border more sensitive than ever before. In this situation, the need for regular surveillance, rapid response and aerial capability in sea search and rescue operations in Naf river and coastal areas has increased significantly.

According to them, the addition of the two new helicopters will increase the Coast Guard's capacity to prevent Rohingya infiltration, human trafficking, yaba and other drug smuggling and cross-country crime by sea. At the same time, they will play an important role in disaster rescue, law enforcement operations, rapid surveillance of coastal areas and protection of Bangladesh's maritime boundaries and marine resources in the Bay of Bengal.

Payment in three years

After verifying the international market, the initial cost of this purchase has been fixed at approximately 500 crore rupees. However, the final purchase price will be determined after calling for international tenders. As the Coast Guard's air traffic budget is limited and the expenditure is planned to be divided into three fiscal years to ensure optimal utilization of funds.

According to the plan, Tk 100 crore will be paid in FY 2026-27, Tk 200 crore in FY 2027-28 and Tk 200 crore in FY 2028-29. There are plans to complete the international tender, contract and initial procurement process with the first year allocation. For this purpose, the Ministry of Home Affairs has recently written to the Finance Department of the Ministry of Finance to take measures to allocate necessary funds to the ‘aircraft purchase’ sector in the budget of the Coast Guard in the next three financial years.

The Coast Guard's plans to form its own aviation unit are not new. On April 21, 2016, the Armed Forces Department of the Prime Minister's Office gave policy instructions in this regard. Its purpose was to add air capability to search and rescue operations at sea, coastal surveillance and law enforcement operations. Initially planned to buy four helicopters, the Coast Guard headquarters made a revised proposal considering the current economic reality. Later it was decided to buy two medium-sized search and rescue helicopters.

Meanwhile, as part of austerity in government expenditure, the Ministry of Finance has issued a notification on July 8 suspending the allocation of all types of new vehicles including watercraft, aircraft for government institutions in the financial year 2026-27. As a result, there is uncertainty about allocating money to this sector in the current financial year. However, the officials of the Ministry of Finance say that the government can decide to finance it on special consideration as the matter is related to national security. The matter is currently under review.

There will be an MoU with the Navy

As the Coast Guard's own aviation infrastructure, hangars, trained pilots and technical manpower are not yet ready, an initiative has been taken to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Bangladesh Navy.

The Naval Aviation Unit of the Navy will assist in the operation and maintenance of the two helicopters until the Coast Guard develops its own capabilities. The assistance will include use of hangars and aprons, supply of air fuel, technical maintenance, crash and fire tender facilities, air traffic control, supply of spare parts, emergency medical care and training of Coast Guard pilots and crew.

Coast Guard has plans for massive modernization under ‘Vision 2030’. As part of this, plans have been made to increase manpower in the future, add various modern equipment including new offshore patrol ships, hovercraft, drones. Officials say the new helicopter modernization is an important step in the program, which will significantly enhance coastal security, sea search and rescue and border surveillance capabilities.

https://samakal.com/bangladesh/article/363329/কোস্টগার্ডের-জন্য-কেনা-হচ্ছে-দুটি-হেলিকপ্টার