PATUAKHALI: Inaugurating the first-ever Coast Guard (CG) Training Base “Agrajatra” on Thursday, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said it  would help improving the quality of Coast Guard.

Praising the coast guards, she also said the role of the force is very important in protecting the large area of maritime boundary and the coastal area of the country. “This is why incumbent government is working to modernise the force,” she said.

The premier further said the government is putting emphasis on blue economy and the coast guard has an important role in ensuring the safety of the wealth here.

She also urged the coast guard members to be more active in detaining sea robbers and to conduct anti-smuggling drives more.

Sheikh Hasina also praised the coast guard members for their vigilant role in the Chittagong Port Area that for which the International Maritime Bureau announced Chittagong Port as a safe one.

The prime minister also said we have been building the coast guard as a part of a large plan and for this, various types of 18 water vehicles and eight pontoons are being built.

Recently, the government has approved coupling of eight large off-shore petrol vessels in principle, she added.

However, the construction work of the training base with 19 buildings was completed on June 30 involving Tk 43.56 crore.

The base is situated at Itbaria beside Patuakhali-Mirzaganj Highway, three kilometers off the district town.

The premier also inaugurated and laid foundation stone of 12 projects worth Tk 58 crore for the improvement of professional knowledge and efficiency of the Coast Guard.

BDST: 1640 HRS, DEC 11, 2014