C T Online Desk: Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) Sagar arrived at Chattogram harbour on Friday as part of the multinational IOS SAGAR 2026 deployment, reinforcing maritime cooperation and regional interoperability between Bangladesh and India.
According to a press release, the vessel completed a successful transit through the Bay of Bengal before entering Bangladeshi waters, where it was received by Bangladesh Navy frigate BNS Ali Haider (F17) and escorted to the harbour.
The visit reflects the growing partnership between the Indian Navy and the Bangladesh Navy, with both sides aiming to strengthen maritime exchanges and regional cooperation.
During the port call, the commanding officer of IOS Sagar is scheduled to hold a series of courtesy meetings with senior Bangladesh Navy officials, including the Commander of Chattogram Naval Area (COMCHIT), the Commander of the Bangladesh Naval Fleet (COMBAN), and the Area Superintendent Dockyard (ASD).
A number of professional, social and commemorative programmes have also been arranged as part of the visit.
COMCHIT will host a welcome reception for the visiting ship, attended by senior members of the Bangladesh Armed Forces, while IOS Sagar will later organise a deck reception to mark the successful completion of the visit.
The commanding officer of the ship is also expected to pay tribute to the shared wartime sacrifices of the two countries through a wreath-laying ceremony at the Chattogram Commonwealth War Cemetery.
As part of operational exchanges, the commanding officer will meet the chairman of the Chattogram Port Authority to discuss maritime logistics and port security. Personnel from both navies will also participate in mutual ship visits and professional exchange programmes.
The crew of IOS Sagar is scheduled to visit the Bangladesh Naval Academy and the BNS Issa Khan Training Complex to exchange experiences on naval training and capacity building.
A friendly football match between members of the Bangladesh and Indian navies has also been planned to promote camaraderie and strengthen ties between the two forces.
According to the statement, the deployment reflects India’s “Neighbourhood First” policy and the MAHASAGAR initiative — Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions — aimed at promoting peace, stability and cooperation in the Indian Ocean region.
