The Bangladesh Navy ship ‘BNS Samudra Joy’ left the country’s Chittagong Naval jetty on Sunday afternoon and started sailing for Karachi to participate in the international exercise ‘EXERCISE AMAN-2025’ hosted by Pakistan.
Amid the strained diplomatic relation with India and growing military ties with Pakistan, intelligence agencies in India are considering Bangladesh’s participation in this year’s exercise is significant. Sources in the Ministry of External Affairs said that all agencies are closely monitoring the developments between India’s two neighbours in the East and West.
“Our agencies operating on Bangladesh and Pakistan soils are on high alert. Bangladesh’s participation in this year’s event is very significant in the backdrop of the Pakistan intelligence wing ISI’s recent covert visit to Dhaka days after Bangladeshi military officials’ Pakistan tour,” said an official of the MEA.
In a ceremonial send-off, the ship departed Chittagong in presence of senior naval officers, which include Real Admiral Mir Ershad Ali, Commander of the Chittagong Naval Area.
Also read: Cargo ship arrives in B’desh from Karachi with explosives
The exercise is performed every two years. It started in 2007 and this year the event is scheduled to be held from February 7 to 11.
“The Bangladesh navy ship, under the command of Captain Mohammad Shahriar Alam, is carrying 33 officers, 58 trainee officers and 274 naval personnel. This will be the first time a major Bangladeshi Navy warship will participate in a Pakistani naval exercise in over a decade. Bangladesh took part in the exercise in 2007, 2009 and 2013,” said an officer of the central Intelligence Bureau (IB).
The officer pointed out that the Bangladeshi warship would touch the ports in Sri Lanka and Maldives en route to Pakistan.
Citing recent developments between Bangladesh and Pakistan, the IB officers said the two countries already established a direct maritime route between Chittagong and Karachi, which was for the first time since Bangladesh’s Liberation War in 1971.
“Two ships have already arrived Chittagong directly from Pakistan and the second one transported two containers stashed with seismic explosives and the consignment was taken out of the port in a haste,” said the officer.
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