Staff Correspondent: If Awami League had not come to power, Bangladesh's rights in the sea would not have been established. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said that these marine resources should be used for the economic development of the country.

The Prime Minister made the remarks while attending the inauguration ceremony of nine ships and a base of the Bangladesh Coast Guard at Ganobhaban on Sunday (November 15).

Meanwhile, a ceremony has been organized at Coast Guard Eastern Base Station in Patenga, Chittagong on the occasion of commissioning of the ship and inauguration of BCG base Bhola.

Four of the nine ships were purchased from Italy. The other five were built at the Navy-run Narayanganj and Khulna shipyards.

The four offshore petrol vessels purchased from Italy are BCGS Syed Nazrul, BCGS Tajuddin, BCGS Mansur Ali and BCGS Kamruzzaman.

The vessels made in the country are BCGS Sabuj Bangla, BCGS Shyamal Bangla, BCGS Sonar Bangla and BCGS Unbeatable Bangla.

Besides, two fast patrol boats BCGS Sonadia and BCGS Kutubdia will be added to the force today. On 14 February 1995, the Coast Guard started its journey on the coastal border of Bangladesh.