For the first time since Bangladesh’s independence in 1971, a United States guided-missile destroyer — the USS Fitzgerald (DDG-62) — anchored at Chittagong Port on Thursday for a three-day bilateral naval exercise with the Bangladesh Navy, intelligence sources confirmed.

The arrival of the USS Fitzgerald marks a watershed moment in Bangladesh-US defence relations, symbolizing a renewed phase of maritime cooperation in the Bay of Bengal.

An official notification from the Commander of the Chattogram Naval Area stated that the 154-metre-long, 20.2-metre-wide, 9,246-tonne destroyer will carry a crew of 327 officers and sailors. The vessel, homeported in San Diego, has been in active service for three decades and is among the US Navy’s most advanced Arleigh Burke-class destroyers.

The ship’s visit follows an invitation extended by Bangladesh Navy Chief Admiral Mohammad Nazmul Hassan during his July visit to the United States, where both sides discussed strengthening maritime security and operational interoperability.

Coordination and command

During the USS Fitzgerald’s visit, Captain A. N. M. Ishtiaq Jahan Farooque of the Bangladesh Navy will serve as the chief coordinating officer, ensuring smooth execution of the joint activities.

Lieutenant Commander Mohammad Redwan Ul Islam has been designated as the ship-to-shore officer, tasked with overseeing all logistical coordination, including transportation between the vessel and the shore, as well as embarkation and disembarkation of US and Bangladesh Navy officers, dignitaries, and invited guests.

Additionally, five senior Bangladesh Navy officers, including Commodores and Lt Commanders, will manage liaison and conducting duties. Commander Ehsan Ahmed will act as the lead conducting officer, working in close coordination with the US Defence Attaché at the American Embassy in Dhaka.

Exercise schedule and precautions at sea

According to Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) records, the exercise will run from October 8 to 10, operating round the clock (0001–2400 hours local time) each day. It will be conducted in a designated maritime zone stretching from Chittagong to Badarkhali along the Bangladesh coast.

The CPA’s Marine Department has issued alerts to all mariners, cargo vessels, coastal ships, and fishing trawlers advising them to avoid the marked zone during the exercise period for safety reasons.

The US and Bangladesh navies have collaborated previously through training initiatives such as the CARAT (Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training) programme, which focuses on maritime security, disaster response, and tactical coordination.

More recently, US Navy SEALs and Bangladesh Navy’s Special Warfare Diving and Salvage (SWADS) units conducted Exercise Tiger Shark, emphasizing combat medicine, underwater demolition, and advanced patrol tactics.

However, officials note that the USS Fitzgerald’s arrival represents a deeper strategic engagement, moving beyond training to operational-level cooperation.

Geopolitical significance and historical context

Intelligence officials have emphasised that the deployment of a US guided-missile destroyer to Bangladesh waters carries symbolic and strategic undertones.
The last time a major US naval presence was seen in the Bay of Bengal was during the 1971 Liberation War, when the US 7th Fleet, led by the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Enterprise, entered the region in support of Pakistan.

The move was perceived as an attempt to pressure India and deter intervention in East Pakistan, but the Soviet Union’s dispatch of nuclear submarines effectively neutralized the US fleet’s intent, prompting its withdrawal.

More than five decades later, the USS Fitzgerald’s visit — this time for joint defence collaboration with an independent Bangladesh — signals a profound transformation in regional dynamics and bilateral trust.

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