Bangabandhu-class

Summary

Description

BNS Bangabandhu is a guided-missile frigate serving the Bangladesh Navy named after the nation's founding father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who is endearingly referred to as "Bangabandhu" or "Friend of Bengal." This ship stands out as the sole frigate in the Bangladesh Navy outfitted with both ASW torpedoes and a gun-based CIWS (Close-In Weapon System). As a current active unit, BNS Bangabandhu is a part of the Commodore Commanding BN Flotilla (COMBAN) and operates from Chattogram.

Regarding armament, BNS Bangabandhu is equipped with the Otomat Mk 2 Block IV anti-ship missiles, which boast a substantial range of 180 kilometers. In an effort to update its weaponry, a tender was issued in April 2018 to replace its two 40 mm Fast Forty guns with a new generation of twin-barrel 40 mm gun systems, bolstering the frigate's combat capabilities.

The ship's origins trace back to an order placement in March 1998, with construction commencing on 12 May 1999 at Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering in the Republic of Korea. It was launched on 29 August 2000 and officially commissioned into service on 20 June 2001. Although briefly renamed in 2007 as BNS Khalid Bin Walid, the vessel resumed its original namesake in 2009, honoring the legacy of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Throughout its operational history, BNS Bangabandhu has been an active participant in international naval exercises and humanitarian missions. Notably, the frigate took part in the multinational Exercise Ferocious Falcon in Doha, Qatar, in November 2012, and made strategic port visits to Kochi, India. It was also involved in annual Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercises with the United States Navy from 2011 to 2015. The significance of its role was recognized on 29 August 2013 when it received the National Standard, a mark of its distinguished service.

In response to global events, the frigate played an instrumental role in the search for the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 in the Bay of Bengal in 2014. It also displayed its commitment to humanitarian aid by delivering 150 tonnes of relief supplies to Sri Lanka in the aftermath of Cyclone Roanu in 2016, taking part in the local rescue efforts. Demonstrating its international diplomacy, BNS Bangabandhu participated in the 6th Doha International Maritime Exhibition and Conference (DIMDEX-2018) and conducted goodwill visits to ports in Mumbai, India, and Colombo, Sri Lanka in early 2018.

Technical specifications