Turkish Navy ship 'TCG Kinaliada' on Tuesday arrived in Bangladesh for a three-day goodwill visit, said ISPR.
The naval ship arrived at Chittagong Port on Tuesday. Commander of Chittagong Naval Region Chief Staff Officer Captain M Asaduzzaman welcomed the ship.
A well-equipped navy band played the band in traditional style. Among others, high-ranking naval officers and sailors along with representatives of the Turkish High Commission in Bangladesh were present in the port city to welcome the war ship.
There are a total of 152 members including officers and sailors in the ship. During the visit, the captain of the ship and the representatives of the Turkish High Commission will pay a courtesy call on Commander Chittagong Naval Region, Commander BN Fleet, Chairman of Chittagong Port and other senior military and civilian officials. The officers and sailors of the visiting ships during their stay in Chittagong Naval Zone will visit the naval base and installations located in Chittagong and other places.
The visit of Turkish Navy ship is expected to further strengthen Turkey's existing cordial relations with Bangladesh.
The ship will leave Bangladesh on May 9, said ISPR.
According to the Turkish High Commission in Dhaka, commissioned in 2019, the “TCG Kınalıada” is the last ADA Class navy ship which was built by the İstanbul Naval Shipyard in accordance with the MİLGEM Program and integrated with Turkiye’s first national surface to surface guided missile ATMACA, developed by ROKETSAN.
Turkiye is increasing its presence in Dhaka as global as well as regional powers are seeking more defense engagements with Bangladesh now than before.
Data shows that 27 defense related MoUs remain pending now with 10 countries including India, China, Russia and the US. However, Bangladesh signed only 19 defense MoUs with 10 countries since its birth in 1971.
According to the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS), since independence Bangladesh signed three MoUs with Turkiye. Three more defence related deals remain pending with Turkiye.
Bangladesh also diversified its source of defense purchase since 2018. Most of the purchases were made from Turkiye.
The items include Otokar Kobra II infantry mobility vehicles (IMVs) and mine-resistant ambush-protected (MRAP) vehicles, Otokar Kobra I light armoured fighting vehicles (AFVs), RN-94 armoured ambulances, TRG-300 Tiger MLRS, TRG-230 surface-to-surface missiles (SSMs), Bayraktar TB2 UCAVs, Oerlikon Skyguard radar system, ground surveillance radars, and portable jammer.
