REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, NEW DELHI — India is concerned with Bangladesh’s decision to order two submarines from China. Local media reported, there are also indications that Chinese submarines have been sneaking into Indian territorial waters in the Bay of Bengal undetected. These developments have led to the Eastern Naval Command seeking more presence in the Bay of Bengal region.

“Why would Bangladesh need submarines? This decision by the government there and the ongoing strife in the country is a matter of concern for us. We also suspect that Chinese submarines are sneaking into Indian territorial waters in the Bay of Bengal region, though none has been detected as yet. This is reason enough for greater naval presence in the region. At the moment, India isn’t really prepared for any conflict in the Bay of Bengal region near West Bengal due to the lack of adequate infrastructure,” a senior Navy officer said as reported by the Times of India, Monday (2/12).

The concern follows Bangladesh negotiation to buy China’s made submarine this year.

“Substantial progress has been made” towards concluding the purchase deal, Armed Forces Division principal staff officer lieutenant general Abu Belal Muhammad Shafiul Huq told New Age on January. Abu Belal also told New Age that they would let the people know about the deal once it was finalized.

He, however, did not disclose the number of submarines the government wanted to buy for the Navy against the background of an enhanced geopolitical focus on the resource-rich Bay of Bengal.

Bangladesh has longstanding territorial disputes over the bay with neighboring Myanmar and India. Bangladesh settled its maritime row with Myanmar last year and settlement of disputes with India now awaits the verdict of an international court.

Government officials hinted that there was a plan to purchase at least three submarines in the next few years. Besides submarines, Dhaka is also negotiating with Beijing to buy two frigates under a state-to-state purchase deal to boost the country’s naval strength, they said.

Beijing offered two of its old 053H2 frigates at a very low rate on the condition that Dhaka would bear the refurbishment and defense equipment costs for the off-the-shelf ships.

An estimated Tk 6.55 billion will be needed to add two frigates to the country’s existing frigate fleet of six.

The Armed Forces Division has been equipped and modernized to safeguard the country’s ‘exclusive economic zone’ in the bay, said major general Abdul Matin. He said arms purchase from China had increased over the last four years.

Bangladesh has procured tanks and 16 fighters from China during the present government. The government also has inked a $1 billion deal with Russia to buy training fighters, choppers, and anti-tank missiles.