KHULNA, Dec 20 - Khulna Shipyard (KSY) Ltd, under the guidance of the Bangladesh Navy, is manufacturing 20 different types of vessels, including Landing Craft Tanks (LCTs), for government organisations.
The KSY, once a lost project, was turned into a profitable organisation, after it was handed over to NAVY for operation.
Since taking charge by the Navy in 1999, the KSY has built over 800 ships, vessels, tankers, dredgers, warships, etc, according to KSY officials.
Construction works of 20 projects are going in full swing at KSY. Of the projects, 3 LCT are under construction with 74.5 meters length, 13.0 meters wide and 1505 tonnes for each.
The 3 LCT will be handed over to the Navy on March 30, April 30 and May 30 in 2026 accordingly. One Search and Rescue vessel will hand over to the Mongla Port Authority (MPA) on March 31, 2026.
The two Bollard Pool Tag Boats will be handed over to Payra Port Authority (PPA) by June and December in 2026 accordingly. One Survey Vessel and one pilot Vessel will be handed over by next February to the PPA.
Four 24 inchees cutter Suction dredger and four Crane Boat will be handed over to Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) by June 30 while four Glass reinforced Plastic (GRP) Catamaran Boat will be handed over to water Development Board (WDB) by June 30, 2026.
Captain A F M Enamul Hasan, General Manager (D & P) of KSY, said Bangladesh is now constructing international-quality, cost-effective medium warships locally. Additionally, vessels of various sizes and classes are also being manufactured.
The officer noted that several large ships built as per international standards have already been constructed domestically.
KSY earns huge foreign currency by manufacturing various ships; Hasan said adding it earns Tk 800 cr in 2024-2025 fiscal year (FY).
Recently, Khulna Shipyard Ltd, under the guidance of the Bangladesh Navy, completed construction of four warships, named after Shaheed Daulat, Shaheed Farid, Shaheed Mohibullah and Shaheed Akhtar Uddin.
Equipped with essential war equipment, these ships are primarily intended for transporting war goods. Noteworthy they include boat guns, large-depth chargers (LDC), rocket depth chargers (RDC), solar panels and other sophisticated systems.
A master chief of the Navy said, "Previously, these types of vessels were imported from abroad. However, a remarkable shift has taken place as they are now being constructed locally at Khulna Shipyard.
On low manufacturing cost, he said: "Approximately 30 years ago, a warship was purchased at an estimated cost of Tk34 crore. It has now become possible to build a similar ship in our country for only Tk17 crore.
Contacted Commodore Md Shahidulla Al Faruk, Managing Director of KSY, said, they built four warship in 2012- 2013.
" KSY could meet foreign demand by manufacturing a middle type of warship, and import of any kind of vessels is not necessary as KSY now build vessels, ships, LCT, PCT, Dredger, etc," he said.
KSY is now operating by a government policy which was formed recently, he said, it would build a sophisticated warship with the help of a classified society.
He, however, said, over 1200 people are working here, hardly with their outstanding skill, experience, honesty and proper work plan, so the KCC is developing.
The MD also said KSY are manufacturing international standard rubber equipment with sophisticated design with the help of foreign experts, adding that KSY will build high rocket sky in future and save governments money.
Khulna Shipyard Limited (KSL), one of Bangladesh's leading state-owned commercial enterprises for shipbuilding and ship repair, is located on 69 acres of land along the Rupsha River adjacent to Khulna city.
