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LCT Amir Hamza

The vessel "LCT AMIR HAMZA " is a Ro-Ro type landing craft. Bangladesh Army uses this vessel to transport goods to Swarna Dweep (Golden Island).

The inaccessible island for long had been used by the organized miscreants and pirates as their safe haven, disrupting the activities of the civil administration. Situated over a three-meter height from the sea level, the island is about 360 square kilometers in area. In 2013, the island was renamed as ‘Swarna Dweep’ and the government allocated it to the Bangladesh Army in 2013 for training as well as development of the island for habitation, improved law and order and afforestation.

President M Abdul Hamid said 25 March 2018 the Swarna Dweep, an alienated island under Hatiya upazila in Noakhali, has huge potentials for development that can contribute to national economy. "I am really amazed to see the Swarna Dweep (Golden Island) . . . the total area of the island is almost equal to Singapore and it can be Singapore of Bangladesh in future," the president told reporters after visiting coconut garden Noakhali. President Hamid put emphasis on developing the area in a planned way and not to turn this beautiful island into densely populated one. "It can be developed in a planned way either under the auspices of the government or Bangladesh Army, he added.

Noting that the army can use this nice place as for their training purposes as there has no such proper place except haor region, President Hamid said it was given to Bangladesh Army to develop it. The president lauded different development works including overall infrastructure and socioeconomic activities in the island, earlier known as "Jahaijjar Char."

The President also laid foundation stone of a 31-bed hospital, which is scheduled to be constructed within 18 months under the supervision of army with the financial support of the health ministry. Chief of Bangladesh Army General Abu Belal Muhammad Shafiul Huq received the President as he flew to the island by a helicopter. Later, President Hamid was briefed about various development activities undertaken here by the army. The army built two multipurpose cyclone shelters while another is under construction.

Prime minister Sheikh Hasina on 14 January 2020 said her government had allocated Swarna Dweep, formerly known as ‘Jahaizzarchar’ of Noakhali, so that the army could stage exercise and take training throughout the year. The prime minister said the name of Swarna Deep was Jahaizzarchar, which was once under the occupation of the pirates. Various incidents like killings and clashes frequently took place there at that time, she said.

‘At that time I told the army that I want to give a big char land to you and make arrangements for its development and exercise. Later, we handed over the area to the army and also changed its name,’ she said and thanked as well as congratulated all concerned of the army, including the 33 and 66 divisions, to turn the island truly ‘Swarna Dweep’. Sheikh Hasina said her government was doing whatever necessary for the development of the island and more development would be made there. ‘We’ll make arrangements there so that the time of the training could be longer,’ she said.

The Hamzanama (or "Story of Hamza") was the most popular epic during the Mughal period. It is the spellbinding story of Amir Hamza, the adventurer who in the service of the Persian emperor defeats many enemies, loves many women, and converts hundreds of infidels to the True Faith before finding his way back to his first love. Full of giants, demons, dragons, heroes and beautiful princesses, these were great adventure stories. The Hamzanama (or "Story of Hamza") was the most popular epic during the Mughal period. Full of giants, demons, dragons, heroes and beautiful princesses, these were great adventure stories narrated around campfires and in courts in many countries. In fact, it was one of the favourite stories of the great Mughal Emperor Akbar. In the 16th century, when the thirteen-year-old Emperor ascended the throne, he commissioned a grand illustration of the Hamzanama. It took 100 artists over 15 years to complete the illustration and the inscription of the story. The resulting manuscript included over 1400 magical paintings, which illustrated 360 tales. Today, only about 200 of these paintings are known to exist.