For the first time since Bangladesh’s liberation in 1971, a US guided missile destroyer, USS Fitzgerald is all set to dock on Wednesday at Chittagong Port to take a part in a three-day exercise with the Bangladesh Navy, information accessed by Northeast News reveals.
An official notification issued by the Commander, Chattogram Naval Area, on October 3 shows that the 154-metre-long, 20.2-metre-wide and 9,246-tonne ship will carry on board total crew members comprising 327 officers and sailors.
Bangladesh Navy’s Captain A N M Ishtiaq Jahan Farooque will be the chief coordinating officer during the USS Fitzgerald’s visit. In active service for 30 years, the US destroyer’s homeport is San Diego.
The US Navy was likely invited by Bangladesh Navy chief Admiral Mohammad Nazmul Hassan during his visit to the US in July this year.
Lieutenant Commodore Mohammad Redwan Ul Islam has been assigned the task of ship-to-shore officer for the visit and will be responsible for “planning, coordinating and overseeing all transportation between USS Fitzgerald and shore once the ship weighs anchor at the Kutubdia anchorage”.
Besides, Lt Cdr Islam will ensure “timely and smooth embarkation and disembarkation of the USS Fitzgerald’s Commanding Officer, crew, BN personnel, invited guests and dignitaries for all official events, programmes and shore visits”.
Five Bangladesh Navy officers of the rank of Commodore and Lt Cdr will perform “conducting and liaison duties”. The main conducting officer, Cdr Ehsan Ahmed has been given the responsibility to coordinate with the US defence attache at the American embassy.
Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) documents accessed by Northeast News show that all mariners in the Bay of Bengal have been alerted of the special exercise between the USS Fitzgerald and the Bangladesh Navy, which will begin daily (from October 8 to 10) at “0001 to 2400 hrs LT in the area bounded by 21°50.00’N-091°34.50’E, 21°50.00’N-091°44.50’E, 21°39.50’N-091°44.50’E and 21°39.50’N-091°34.50’E.
Plotting the longitude and latitude information on the map shows that the area of the special exercise extends from Chittagong to Badarkhali along Bangladesh’s coast.
The CPA’s Marine Department’s October 5 advisory has cautioned “all sea-going vessels, coastal vessels and fishing trawlers…to avoid the marked area maneuvering and anchoring during this period (October8-10).
The US Navy has, from time to time, conducted joint exercise with its Bangladesh counterpart. These have been mostly in the nature of training programmes, including annual bilateral exercise CARAT (Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training) to enhance maritime security and interoperability.
More recently, US Navy SEALs joined Bangladesh Navy Special Warfare Diving and Salvage (SWADS) units in the Tiger Shark exercise, focusing on combat medicine and patrolling tactics.
However, the arrival of USS Fitzgerald has more than symbolic, routine value. In December 1971, the US Navy’s 7th Fleet, led by the USS Enterprise, a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, was deployed in the Bay of Bengal as a show of support for Pakistan during the Bangladesh liberation war and to apply pressure on India.
The manoeuvre was intended to deter India from its advances on East Pakistan, but the Soviet Union countered by sending its own nuclear submarines to the region, leading to the US fleet’s withdrawal.
