Pakistan Navy Ship (PNS) SAIF (FFG-253), a formidable Type 053H3 (F-22P) frigate commanded by Captain Shujaat Abbas Raja, anchored at Chattogram Port Saturday for a historic four-day goodwill visit—the first by a Pakistani warship since Bangladesh’s 1971 independence from Pakistan.
Welcomed by Bangladesh Navy Ship BNS Shadhinota upon entering territorial waters, PNS SAIF was ceremonially received at port by the Chief Staff Officer of Commander Chattogram Naval Area, alongside officials from Pakistan’s High Commission in Dhaka and senior Bangladesh Navy personnel. The visit, concluding November 12, underscores the warming bilateral relations post-August 2024’s ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who had strained ties with Islamabad while deepening links with India.
The Bangladesh Army’s Inter Services Public Relations Directorate (ISPR) stated the port call aims to “enhance friendly relations and cooperation,” fostering maritime collaboration amid regional shifts. During the stay, PNS SAIF’s captain and officers will pay courtesy calls on Commander Chattogram Naval Area, Commander Bangladesh Navy Fleet, and Area Superintendent Dockyard. Delegation members, including sailors and trainees, will tour historic sites, scenic attractions, naval vessels, and bases in Chattogram. Reciprocally, Bangladesh Navy personnel will board the Pakistani frigate to exchange best practices.
This naval engagement follows last year’s breakthrough docking of a Pakistani cargo vessel—the first since 1971—and aligns with high-level military diplomacy. In late October, Pakistan’s Chairman Joint Chiefs Gen. Sahir Shamshad Mirza visited Dhaka, meeting Bangladesh’s top brass and interim Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus. Admiral Naveed Ashraf, Chief of Naval Staff, concluded his Bangladesh trip alongside PNS SAIF’s arrival, hosting a reception attended by Bangladesh CNS Admiral M. Nazmul Hassan, diplomats, and business leaders to advance joint training and regional security.
PNS SAIF, a Chinese-built multi-role frigate equipped for anti-ship, anti-air, and anti-submarine warfare, symbolizes Pakistan’s operational prowess. The visit, coinciding with India’s Bay of Bengal exercise Trishul, reflects Bangladesh’s balanced maritime strategy amid diversified defence partnerships with India, China, and now Pakistan.
Pakistan and Bangladesh reaffirm their brotherly bonds, prioritizing peace, stability, and shared prosperity in the Indian Ocean region.
