The Pacific Fleet’s naval group comprises of the large
anti-submarine warfare ships Admiral Tributs and Admiral Panteleyev and the
oceanic tanker Pechenga. The combat ships are moored at Chittagong port,
considered Bangladesh’s main sea harbour.
Confirming the arrival of the Russian naval fleet,
Chattogram Port Authority secretary Md Omar Faruk said that it was a friendly
visit from Russia to Bangladesh.
Naval ships from Turkey and France also came recently on
such friendly visits, he said.
The
naval fleet came around 10 months after the Bangladesh government in January
instructed the authorities concerned not to allow any of the 69 mother vessels
of seven Russian companies sanctioned by the United States to enter the
country’s ports.
The Mercantile Marine Office, Chattogram, issued a circular
to this effect on January 16, mentioning the IMO (International Maritime
Organisation) ship identification numbers so that they were not allowed to
avail of any services, including certification, renewal, refuelling, and
insurance, in Bangladesh territory.
The Russian Pacific Fleet Squadron is visiting the
Chattogram Port, which is a huge milestone for Russia-Bangladesh relations. The
last time Russian/Soviet naval ships visited Bangladeshi ports was 50 years
ago.
The Russian embassy in Bangladesh shared a related story on
its verified Facebook page.
Ashik Imran, the Russian honorary consul in Chattogram, told
TAAS that Russian naval sailors this time had called at the port solely on a
friendly visit.
‘This
is evidence that the relations between the two states are currently at a very
high level,’ the Russian state media quoted Imran as saying.
