Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina looks at a training aircraft, K-8W, at Bangabandhu Kurmitola Air Base of Bangladesh Air Force in Dhaka Cantonment at its inauguration ceremony yesterday. Photo: BSS

Reaffirming her resolve to turn Bangladesh Air Force into a strategically and technically capable force, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said the BAF will get Mi-171, YAK-130 helicopters and PT-6, LET-410 planes soon.

She was addressing the induction ceremony of the newly procured K-8W Trainer Aircraft to the air force fleet at BAF Base Bangabandhu at the city's Kurmitola.

The K-8W is a Chinese-built jet trainer with the state-of-the-art digital cockpit for basic and advanced jet training.

The PM hoped the induction of K-8W jet trainer will raise BAF's training capability to international standards and training would be safer and faster.

Hasina said her government, despite financial constraints, wants to build the armed forces as efficient, well equipped and modern forces and will do whatever necessary to this end.

The BAF members, working for UN peacekeeping missions, earned pride and praise for the nation, she stated.

The construction work, said the premier, of Bangabandhu Complex at Jessore Air Force Academy has been progressing fast and a new air defence radar is being installed in Cox's Bazar to ensure a full-time surveillance of the airspace over the country's huge exclusive economic zone in the Bay of Bengal.

She formally handed over the Induction Order of K-8W to Wing Commander Sharif Mustafa, commander of the parade.

Earlier, Air Chief Air Marshal Mohammad Enamul Bari and Air Officer Commanding of the base Air Commodore M Obaidur Rahman received the PM at BAF Base Bangabandhu.

Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury, PM's advisers, ambassadors, chief of the naval staff, principal staff officer of the Armed Forces Division and high military and civil officials were present.