With an investment of 1,800 crore BDT (approx. USD 147,905), the BNS Sher-e-Bangla Naval Base and Training Institute emerges as the largest and most ambitious Naval establishment in Bangladesh. Located along the banks of the Galachipa River in Patuakhali, the master plan spans 207 acres, with an additional 600 acres secured for future expansion. Designed to protect the country’s maritime boundaries while shaping a comprehensive training and residential environment, the project is more than a defense installation—it is a self-sufficient naval township.

The site lies in a cyclone-prone zone of southern Bangladesh, where river erosion, high wind velocities, and tidal surges pose continuous threats. To address these challenges, every building in the master plan was raised on a plinth level of 4'-6", mitigating risks from waterlogging and soil erosion. The master plan also acknowledges the prevailing south-eastern wind flow, aligning building orientations for optimal natural ventilation, while shaded courtyards and open grounds ensure thermal comfort.

As part of a coastal resilience strategy, the planning integrates cyclone-resistant vegetation (coconut, palm, tal, hijol) and large open grounds that can double as emergency shelters during natural disasters. Landscape and ecological layers have been designed to balance functional zones with biodiversity, ensuring a healthy environment for both naval personnel and the surrounding community.

The project integrates 87 distinct facilities within a well-structured grid, carefully zoned for security, efficiency, and accessibility. Key programmatic components include:

Academic and Training Institutes A network of schools, colleges, and training facilities form the intellectual and operational heart of the base.
Residential Quarters Housing for officers, sailors, and staff is organized into blocks, complemented by community facilities such as mosques, messes, and recreation grounds.
Healthcare Infrastructure A 50-bed hospital ensure medical support and contribute to a healing landscape, with medicinal and fragrant trees integrated around the premises.
Administrative and Operational Buildings Offices, workshops, hydrographic and oceanographic units, warehouses, and technical support areas enable the seamless functioning of naval operations.
Recreational and Civic Facilities Football grounds, parade grounds, watch towers, clubs, nurseries, and guest houses strengthen the community fabric.

Each block is designed with clear functional identity yet remains interconnected through a hierarchy of roads, pedestrian networks, and green corridors. The result is a balanced composition of built and open spaces, structured around both operational needs and human-scale experiences.

The architecture of the base reflects a synthesis of security, resilience, and livability. Massing strategies prioritize low-rise, horizontally scaled blocks to withstand wind loads and maintain visual harmony across the vast landscape. Simple geometric forms, wide verandas, and shaded arcades reference the regional vernacular while responding to climatic demands.

Materials and structural systems were chosen for durability in saline, coastal environments, while facades maintain a restrained and institutional identity, ensuring the base’s prominence without unnecessary ornamentation. Open courtyards, shaded walkways, and cross-ventilated interiors highlight a human-centered approach within a highly secured defense campus.

From the outset, sustainability was embedded in the planning and design:

Rainwater harvesting and sustainable water management reduce dependency on external resources.
Sewerage treatment plants and RO water plants ensure safe water circulation.
Drainage and civic utilities are carefully integrated with site gradients to prevent flooding.
Landscape buffers mitigate heat, dust, and cyclone impacts.

As the lead consultant, MRA Architects provided comprehensive design solutions, including architectural, structural, electrical, plumbing, and infrastructural engineering. The integrated approach ensures efficiency and resilience at both building and township scale.

Inaugurated by the Honorable Prime Minister of Bangladesh, the BNS Sher-e-Bangla Naval Base & Training Institute has been widely recognized for its architectural and strategic importance. Beyond its role as a defense facility, the project symbolizes Bangladesh’s resilience against natural and geopolitical threats, while demonstrating the country’s growing capacity to deliver large-scale, world-class institutional architecture.