INS Sunayna’s big Bangladesh mission ends, Indian Navy ship heads to Sri Lanka after maritime drill

The ship is currently en route to Colombo, Sri Lanka, with its departure marked by a ceremonial send-off by the Bangladesh Navy.

During the visit, the Commanding Officer of IOS SAGAR called on senior Bangladesh Navy officials, including Commander BN Fleet (COMBAN) and Commander Chattogram Naval Area (COMCHIT), as part of efforts to further strengthen bilateral maritime cooperation and advance shared regional maritime objectives.

A statement issued by the Indian government said a deck reception hosted onboard the ship brought together senior leadership of the Bangladesh Navy, while the visiting crew also attended a reception hosted by the Bangladesh Navy.

Professional interactions during the port call included cross-deck visits and exchanges of best practices between personnel of both navies, aimed at enhancing operational understanding and cooperation.

The crew of IOS SAGAR also visited the Bangladesh Naval Academy, where they interacted with officer cadets and faculty members.

“Friendly sporting activities and cultural engagements further enhanced mutual understanding and camaraderie between the two navies,” the statement said.

Following its departure from Chattogram, IOS SAGAR participated in a Passage Exercise (PASSEX) with BNS Protoy and Bangladesh Navy air assets.

The exercise featured coordinated maritime drills and advanced surface manoeuvres designed to enhance interoperability and operational coordination between the two navies.

The visit and the subsequent PASSEX underscore the shared commitment of India and Bangladesh to ensuring peace, stability, and security in the Indian Ocean Region.

With personnel from 16 partner nations embarked onboard, IOS SAGAR continues its operational deployment across the region, with Colombo, Sri Lanka, as its next port of call.