For the first time since Bangladesh’s liberation in 1971, the US guided missile destroyer USS Fitzgerald is set to dock at Chittagong Port to participate in a three-day joint exercise with the Bangladesh Navy, intelligence sources in Dhaka confirmed.
An official notification from the Commander of the Chattogram Naval Area stated that the 154-metre-long, 20.2-metre-wide, 9,246-tonne vessel will carry a crew of 327 officers and sailors. Captain A N M Ishtiaq Jahan Farooque of the Bangladesh Navy will act as the chief coordinating officer during the visit. The destroyer, which has been in active service for 30 years, has its homeport in San Diego.
The US Navy’s visit follows an invitation extended by Bangladesh Navy chief Admiral Mohammad Nazmul Hassan during his official visit to the United States in July. Lieutenant Commodore Mohammad Redwan Ul Islam has been designated as the ship-to-shore officer, responsible for coordinating all transport and official events between the USS Fitzgerald and the shore.
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Intelligence sources indicated that five Bangladesh Navy officers, including Commodores and Lieutenant Commanders, will manage conducting and liaison duties during the exercise. Commander Ehsan Ahmed will serve as the main conducting officer and coordinate with the US defence attaché at the American embassy.
Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) documents have alerted all mariners in the Bay of Bengal about the exercise, scheduled from October 8 to 10, operating 24 hours daily. The exercise will take place in a designated area stretching from Chittagong to Badarkhali along Bangladesh’s coast. The CPA has advised sea-going vessels, coastal ships, and fishing trawlers to avoid the area during this period.
US Navy exercises with the Bangladesh Navy have primarily focused on training, including the annual CARAT (Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training) programme, aimed at enhancing maritime security and operational interoperability. More recently, US Navy SEALs collaborated with Bangladesh Navy Special Warfare Diving and Salvage (SWADS) units in the Tiger Shark exercise, focusing on combat medicine and patrolling tactics.
The arrival of the USS Fitzgerald holds symbolic significance. During the 1971 Bangladesh liberation war, the US Navy’s 7th Fleet, led by the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Enterprise, was deployed in the Bay of Bengal to support Pakistan and apply pressure on India. The Soviet Union responded by deploying nuclear submarines, ultimately prompting the US fleet’s withdrawal.
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