Bangladesh welcomes Pakistan Navy’s guided missile warship ‘PNS Saif’ at Chittagong

Bangladesh Navy went overboard in welcoming Pakistan Navy chief Admiral Naveed Ashraf today at Chittagong Port even as the hosts presented full ceremonial honours to PNS Saif, an F-22P Zulfiquar-class guided missile frigate a, frontline warship.

This is the first time that a Pakistani warship enter Bangladeshi territorial waters since 1971 when one of the notable losses suffered by the Pakistan Navy was the sinking of the submarine PNS Ghazi off the coast of Visakhapatnam.

The Pakistan Navy reportedly suffered a 40 percent loss of its fleet of vessels.

As part of an advance plan to welcome Adm Ashraf, a Bangladesh Navy vessel will meet PNS Saif in the Bay of Bengal at Longitude-Latitude 35′ N 0910 30′ E before the Pakistani vessel is escorted to the outer anchorage.

Shortly thereafter PNS Saif will enter Chattogram harbour where Pakistani diplomats will be in attendance as a Bangladesh Navy band will play Pakistani and Bangladeshi music.

Between 1 and 5 pm on November 8, Pakistani naval officers and sailors will be on “shore leave” during which time they will be free to go shopping at an Aarong outlet and Khulshi market in Chittagong.

The next day, the Pakistani guests, including the Commander of PNS Saif, will reach the COMCHIT (Commander Chittagong Area) office at 9:45 am.The next destination for the Pakistan naval officers will be Bangladesh’s Fleet Headquarters and the office of the Commander, Bangladesh Navy Flotilla.

About 20 officers of the host country’s navy will get an opportunity to be on board PNS Saif before Pakistani and Bangladeshi naval officers will hold a “coordination meeting on passage exercise”.

On November 10, students of Chittagong-based Bangladesh Navy School and College will be taken onboard PNS Saif before Pakistan Navy officers are escorted for a visit to the BNS Issa Khan Training Complex.

Much about the visiting Pakistani admiral’s programme on November 11 remains classified, but Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) sources said the guest could be briefed about the Bangladesh Navy’s expansion plans and he could be taken on a visit to Cox’s Bazar.

PNS Saif will depart Chittagong Port on November 12 afternoon.