The exercise will be followed by the Indian Navy-Bangladesh Navy Coordinated Patrol (CORPAT) in Northern Bay of Bengal

The second edition of Exercise Bongosagar, the bilateral exercise between Indian Navy and Bangladesh Navy, will be held in Northern Bay of Bengal on Saturday. It aims to develop inter-operability and joint operational skills by conducting a wide spectrum of maritime exercises and operations.

The naval exercise, which was first held in 2019, will see ships from both navies participating in surface warfare drills, seamanship evolutions and helicopter operations.

Giving details, the Ministry of Defence said the exercise will be followed by the third edition of the Indian Navy-Bangladesh Navy Coordinated Patrol (CORPAT) in Northern Bay of Bengal on October 4 and 5.

Under this, Indian Navy and Bangladesh Navy will undertake joint patrolling along the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL). The conduct of CORPATs has strengthened understanding between both the navies and instituted measures to stop conduct of unlawful activities, the ministry said in an official statement.

According to the government, Exercise Bongosagar and IN-BN CORPAT reflects the priority that Indian Navy accords to the Bangladesh Navy as part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of SAGAR (Security And Growth for All in the Region).

Indian Naval Ship (INS) Kiltan, an indigenously built Anti-Submarine Warfare Corvette, and INS Khukri, an indigenously built Guided-Missile Corvette, are participating along with Bangladesh Naval Ship (BNS) Abu Bakr, a Guided-Missile Frigate and BNS Prottoy, a Guided-Missile Corvette. In addition to ships, Maritime Patrol Aircraft from both the navies and integral helicopters would also be participating in the exercise.

The Ministry of Defence pointed out that “India and Bangladesh have a close, long-standing relationship covering a wide spectrum of activities and interactions, which has strengthened over the years”. The people of India and Bangladesh also share close cultural bonds and a shared vision of democratic society and a rules-based order, it added.

This edition of Exercise Bongosagar assumes even greater significance since it is being conducted during Mujib Barsho, the 100th birth anniversary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.