Three Indian navy training ships have reached Chittagong naval base as part of a five-day “goodwill” visit, Bangladesh Navy has said.
Commander Chittagong Naval Zone Chief Staff Officer Captain Kamal Nasser welcomed those ships in a traditional ceremony on Friday, Bangladesh Navy said in a statement.
The ships — from 1st Training Squadron of Indian Navy, INS Tir, INS Sujata, and ICGS Varuna — are on an overseas training tour of the region and are visiting Thailand, Myanmar and Bangladesh, the Indian High Commission in Dhaka, earlier, said.
In Bangladesh, they are visiting as part of ongoing bilateral exchanges between India and Bangladesh. “The visit will further strengthen the friendship that has historically existed between the two Navies,” the High Commission said.
The First Training Squadron is the ‘alma mater’ of Indian Navy and Coast Guard officers. It imparts basic sea training to officers and helps them earn their ‘sea legs’.
INS Tir, (meaning Arrow) is the first cadet training ship of Indian Navy. It was built by Mazagon Dock Limited, Mumbai and commissioned in 1986. She is the senior ship of the 1st Training Squadron of Indian Navy.
INS Sujata (means ‘birth from good origin’) is a large offshore patrol vessel. It was built at Hindustan Shipyard and commissioned into Indian Navy in 1991.
ICGS Varuna, (named after the ‘Lord Varuna’) is an offshore patrol vessel jointly built by Mazagon Dock Limited and Goa Shipyard Limited for the Indian Coast Guard. It was commissioned in 1988.
During the visit officers, cadets and sailors of India and Bangladesh will get an opportunity to interact with each other and benefit from best practices being followed by both Navies in field training.
In addition to training activities, a number of visits, cultural activities and sports exchanges are also planned during the stay till Nov 15.
Source: Bd news24
