China-Assisted BNS Pekua Emerges as South Asia’s Largest Submarine Base

Reading Time: 3 minutes Bangladesh’s strategic maritime ambitions have taken a major leap forward as construction of the country’s first full-fledged submarine base nears completion in Cox’s Bazar. The facility, being developed under a $1.22 billion contract awarded to China’s Poly Technologies Inc, is now widely regarded as the largest submarine base in South Asia. Recent high-resolution satellite imagery confirms that the base — situated along the coastline south of Cox’s Bazar — has reached an advanced stage of development. The sprawling complex is designed to support underwater and surface warfare operations, and includes comprehensive maintenance, storage, training, and operational facilities. Comprehensive Submarine Base Facilities Submarine Dry Dock:The base features a dry dock measuring 135 metres in length and 30 metres in width, enabling the Bangladesh Navy to conduct maintenance, repairs, and upgrades on its submarine fleet. This facility ensures high operational readiness and sustainability for both current and future