High Commission of India
Dhaka

Press Release

3 Indian Naval Ships, INS Ranjit, INS Khanjar and INS Vinash have
arrived at Chittagong Port on 17 March 2008, on a three-day goodwill visit. The visit of the Naval Ships is part of ongoing defence cooperation between India and Bangladesh.

Among the ships, INS Ranjit is a sophisticated Guided Missile Destroyer, which had visited Chittagong Port in 2005 also. INS Khanjar and INS Vinash are indigenously-built Missile Corvettes of the Indian Navy. The 3 ships are part of the Eastern Fleet of Indian Navy, which had also participated in Bangladesh’s
Liberation War and played a critical role in ensuring early termination of hostilities through blockade of ports.

The naval contingent is being commanded by Flag Officer Commanding-in Chief, Eastern Naval Command, Vice Admiral Raman Prem Suthan AVSM, VSM. He and other senior officers of the Indian Navy would be calling on the senior Bangladeshi Navy, Army and Air force authorities in Chittagong, to exchange views. Indian Naval personnel on the ships also plan to offer community service at BAWA Children Home, Nandan Kanan on 18 March and set up a medical and blood donation camp on 19 March, in coordination with Bangladesh Navy.

There has been regular exchange of visits between Navies of India and Bangladesh, in recent months. In January 2008, BNS Sangu participated in a multinational exercise ‘Milan’ organised by Indian Navy. In February 2008, Assistant Chief of Naval Staff, Bangladesh Navy, participated in Indian Ocean Naval Symposium held in New Delhi and witnessed Defence Expo 2008. Recently, 5000 Metric Tonnes of rice was brought to Chittagong by several Indian Naval Ships, as part of emergency food supplies from India to help victims of Cyclone SIDR.

Dhaka
March 17, 2008