The keel-laying ceremony for five Riverine Patrol Vessels (RPVs) being constructed for the Bangladesh Coast Guard was held today at Dockyard and Engineering Works (DEW) Limited, marking another significant milestone in the country’s growing indigenous defence industrial capability.
Mr Manzur Morshed Chowdhury, Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs, attended the ceremony as the Chief Guest, while Rear Admiral Md Ziaul Hoque, Director General of the Bangladesh Coast Guard, was present as the Special Guest.
The five vessels are being built using indigenous technology and expertise at the Bangladesh Navy-operated DEW Limited under the government’s “Made in Bangladesh” initiative. The project reflects the nation’s continued commitment to achieving greater self-reliance in defence production and strengthening domestic shipbuilding capabilities.
Each Riverine Patrol Vessel will measure 38.5 metres in length, 7.9 metres in breadth and 2.45 metres in depth, with a displacement of 232 tonnes. Designed to operate at speeds of up to 25 knots, the vessels will be equipped with modern navigation and surveillance systems, including navigation radar, GPS, night-vision equipment and other advanced technologies.
Upon commissioning, the RPVs will undertake a wide range of operational tasks across Bangladesh’s rivers, estuaries and coastal waters. Their primary roles will include routine patrols, anti-smuggling and anti-infiltration operations, counter-terrorism missions, and search and rescue activities.
The successful completion of the programme is expected to significantly enhance the operational effectiveness of the Bangladesh Coast Guard. Operated under the Bangladesh Navy, the service will gain improved capability to safeguard the country’s extensive inland and coastal waterways while contributing to national maritime security.
The construction of these vessels at DEW Limited stands as a notable example of Bangladesh’s expanding indigenous defence manufacturing sector and its pursuit of self-sufficiency in strategically important industries.
Amit Bhattacharya is a leading defence procurement expert with deep expertise in modern weapon systems and military hardware acquisition. Over more than a decade, he has collaborated with top defence contractors and strategic research institutions, delivering incisive analysis on procurement frameworks, capability development, and technology integration for armed forces worldwide. Amit bridges the gap between operational requirements and industrial capacity, providing authoritative evaluations of modernisation programmes, defence budgets, and acquisition reforms in both established and emerging defence markets. He leads the Defence Procurement and Defence Industry sections at BDMilitary, shaping strategic discourse on defence innovation. Amit earned his Master of Policy and Governance (MPAG) from the University of Canterbury, New Zealand, complementing his practical expertise with advanced policy and governance insight.
