2 Indian warships reach Mongla Port for 3-day visit

To celebrate the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the golden jubilee of Bangladesh's independence, two Indian Navy warships – INS Kulish and INS Sumedha – arrived at Mongla Port in Bagerhat, on Monday morning, for a three-day visit.

A well-equipped band of the Bangladesh Navy greeted the two ships playing musical instruments.

Captain M Mosharraf Hossain, commander of Bangladesh Navy's Mongla Naval Base, welcomed the captains of the two Indian warships with flowers. High-ranking officials of the Bangladesh Navy, including a representative of the Indian High Commission in Bangladesh, were present at the time.

During the visit, top Indian Navy officer Commodore Mahadeva Gobardhan Raju, and the captains of the two ships, will pay homage at the tomb of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, in Tungipara, and lay a wreath at the tomb of Birshreshtha Ruhul Amin.

Further, they are due to pay a courtesy call on Bangladesh Navy's commander of Khulna Naval Area and commander Flotilla West, as well as exchange views with naval commandos and freedom fighters who participated in the Liberation War of 1971.

Commander Sanjeev Agnihotri is leading the INS Kulish ship with 18 officers and 160 sailors while Commander Gaurav Durgapal is leading the INS Sumeda ship with 20 officers and 160 sailors.

As part of the tour, the Indian Navy officials and sailors will visit different places in Khulna, including Bangladesh Navy's Mongla base.

The naval officers of the two neighbouring countries hope that this goodwill visit of the two Indian warships will play an important role in further strengthening the friendly relations between Bangladesh and India. The two ships are scheduled to leave Bangladesh on 10 March at the end of the tour.