India's Backyard Under Threat: China-Bangladesh Submarine Base Sparks Security Concerns

Satellite imagery has unveiled the rapid progress of a new submarine dry dock at the BNS Sheikh Hasina naval base in Bangladesh, constructed with significant Chinese assistance.

This development underscores China's deepening strategic partnership with Bangladesh and the potential for expanded Chinese influence within the Bay of Bengal.

The BNS Sheikh Hasina base, located at Pekua in Cox's Bazar, is a centerpiece of Bangladesh's "Forces Goal 2030" military modernization program. The presence of a dry dock capable of servicing submarines creates significant concerns for India, as it indicates an advancement in Bangladesh's undersea warfare capabilities.

Strategically situated near the mouth of the Bay of Bengal, the base places potential Chinese assets, such as People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) submarines, in close proximity to India's strategically vital Andaman and Nicobar Command. This development could enable the PLAN to project power into areas previously considered India's sphere of influence.

Bangladesh currently possesses two Chinese-built submarines, and the potential for future acquisitions remains high. Moreover, there are concerns that China could seek access to the base under the guise of anti-piracy operations, effectively establishing a strategic foothold in the region.

India has expressed legitimate concerns about this development, as a Chinese-supported submarine base near its territorial waters disrupts the delicate regional balance of power.

The possibility of PLAN submarines operating in the vicinity of the Indian coastline adds a new dimension to the geopolitical complexities of the Bay of Bengal.

 

[NSR]

Definitely troublesome news.
First Sri Lanka, then Maldives, and now Bangladesh, and as usual our permanent enemy terroristan/beggeristan is there too.
Too close criminal chinese presence for our confort.

 

[Hari Sud]

BS Analysis and report

 

[vinod nair]

Why Bangladesh needs sub in the first place

 

[Sumanta Nag]

Nothing to worry about it, since Bangladesh is dependent on Chinese Subs, it urgently need a maintenance hub same necessitates sourcing of equipment and tool from PR China that includes human resource since Bangladesh lacks expertise of Sub maintenance. Reciprocally Myanmar Navy has been boosted by the delivery of Kilo Class Submarine from India.

 

[Sumanta Nag]

Why Bangladesh needs sub in the first place

To deter Myanmar Navy which has already commissioned One Russian Origin Sub and One Chinese Origin sub.

 

[Apocalypse gupta]

Nothing to worry about it, since Bangladesh is dependent on Chinese Subs, it urgently need a maintenance hub same necessitates sourcing of equipment and tool from PR China that includes human resource since Bangladesh lacks expertise of Sub maintenance. Reciprocally Myanmar Navy has been boosted by the delivery of Kilo Class Submarine from India.

Exactly. There is 0 chance of china docking its submarines so close to India lol. India could destroy this base in few minutes using a volley of brahmos

 

[Sridhar]

Really a worrisome development. Indian navy should take measures to gaurd its backyard.

 

[Anant]

To deter Myanmar Navy which has already commissioned One Russian Origin Sub and One Chinese Origin sub.

It's the other way around. Submarines for Bangladesh was more of a way to expand their naval capabilities. They wanted to do that on the cheap, though, and therefore ordered two second-hand Type 035 submarines from China. Their idea was to use these submarines till 2035 or so (the submarines having entered Bangladeshi service in 2017 and Chinese service in 1990).

Myanmar felt threatened by this for some reason, and therefore requested submarines of their own. We donated one of our old Kilo-class submarines to them in 2020 (INS Sindhuvir, which had served with India since 1988), and China followed with a donation of an old Type 035 submarine to them in 2021 to mirror us.

 

[Anant]

Nothing to worry about it, since Bangladesh is dependent on Chinese Subs, it urgently need a maintenance hub same necessitates sourcing of equipment and tool from PR China that includes human resource since Bangladesh lacks expertise of Sub maintenance. Reciprocally Myanmar Navy has been boosted by the delivery of Kilo Class Submarine from India.

Said Myanmar Navy also received one Type 035 submarine donated by China in 2021, and is currently part of a regime embroiled in a Civil War.

 

[Sandeep]

This submarine base is a first for Bangladesh who have around 4-6 Chinese submarines that they operate. Mostly they can't because of the poor technology, parts, equipment, fire power and waiting for spares, and parts directly supplied by China only.

India shouldn't worry about the Bangladesh submarines as they are even worse than the Kilo submarines we bought and use. India has to make sure that Bangladesh doesn't allow any Chinese submarines or ships to start coming near our territory or have regular visits from the Chinese at the ports.

 

[Anant]

This submarine base is a first for Bangladesh who have around 4-6 Chinese submarines that they operate. Mostly they can't because of the poor technology, parts, equipment, fire power and waiting for spares, and parts directly supplied by China only.

India shouldn't worry about the Bangladesh submarines as they are even worse than the Kilo submarines we bought and use. India has to make sure that Bangladesh doesn't allow any Chinese submarines or ships to start coming near our territory or have regular visits from the Chinese at the ports.

Um, Bangladesh has 2 Type 035 submarines. These are second-hand boats procured from China in 2017. The entire idea in Bangladesh was to use these submarines till 2030-35, and then procure 3-5 modern submarines (either new or second-hand). That said, however, Bangladesh hasn't reported any issues with their submarines, unlike Pakistan who has naval officers on record saying that their Chinese-built warships face a bunch of issues. As for our Kilo-class boats, well, a bunch of them are rapidly approaching retirement age.

 

[bonito]

Definitely troublesome news.
First Sri Lanka, then Maldives, and now Bangladesh, and as usual our permanent enemy terroristan/beggeristan is there too.
Too close criminal chinese presence for our confort.

The more troublesome news is Myanmar port is also being developed by Xhina

 

[Satya Dev]

This base is located in Chittgaon, which was given away by chacha because jinna complained to g@ndhiji that he doesn't want East P@xtan to be surrounded on all sides by Bharat - so in spite of Chittgaon being a Hindu-Buddhist majority district it was given away to P@xtan, restricting our access to our 7 NE sisters from the sea.