Bangladesh is to acquire three warships from the UK to modernise and upgrade its naval force.

Chief of naval staff Vice Admiral Zahir Uddin Ahmed said the three warships would be commissioned by November 2010.

The Bangladeshi Navy would be modernised if the development programmes undertaken by the government were implemented properly, he said.

Bangladeshi President Zillur Rahman emphasised increasing technology-based naval skills and capabilities, similar to those of other naval forces of developed countries.