INS Sunayna Strengthens India-Bangladesh Partnership with Joint PASSEX in Bay of Bengal

Reinforcing India’s growing maritime diplomacy and regional security cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), the Indian Navy’s INS Sunayna concluded a successful operational visit to Chattogram, Bangladesh, under the Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) SAGAR initiative, marking another important step in strengthening strategic ties between the Indian and Bangladesh Navies.

The vessel departed Chattogram on 10 May 2026 following a series of high-level military interactions, professional exchanges, cultural engagements and a coordinated Passage Exercise (PASSEX) with the Bangladesh Navy, underscoring the expanding maritime partnership between the two neighbouring nations.

The departure ceremony was marked by a formal ceremonial send-off by the Bangladesh Navy, reflecting the growing depth of bilateral naval cooperation and mutual strategic trust in the Bay of Bengal region.

INS Sunayna Advancing India’s SAGAR Vision Across the Indian Ocean

INS Sunayna is currently deployed as part of India’s Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) SAGAR initiative, a key maritime outreach mission aligned with India’s strategic vision of SAGAR — Security and Growth for All in the Region.

The initiative forms a critical component of India’s broader Indo-Pacific and Indian Ocean strategy aimed at enhancing regional maritime security, strengthening interoperability with partner nations and promoting cooperative responses to emerging maritime challenges including piracy, illegal trafficking, humanitarian crises and maritime domain awareness.

Notably, INS Sunayna’s deployment carries personnel from 16 partner nations onboard, symbolising India’s increasing role as a collaborative maritime security provider and regional partner in the Indian Ocean Region.

Following its Bangladesh visit, the ship is now enroute to Colombo, Sri Lanka, continuing its regional operational deployment.

High-Level Naval Engagements Deepen Strategic Maritime Cooperation

During the port call, the Commanding Officer of IOS Sagar held a series of meetings with senior Bangladesh Navy leadership, including:

• Commander Bangladesh Navy Fleet (COMBAN)

• Commander Chattogram Naval Area (COMCHIT)

The discussions focused on expanding bilateral maritime cooperation, enhancing naval interoperability and advancing shared regional maritime objectives in the increasingly strategic Bay of Bengal and Indian Ocean Region.

Defence analysts note that India and Bangladesh have significantly strengthened defence and maritime cooperation over the last decade, particularly in areas such as:

• Maritime security

• Coastal surveillance

• Humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR)

• Joint naval exercises

• Maritime domain awareness

• Capacity building and training

The visit of INS Sunayna is being viewed as part of a sustained effort to institutionalise operational cooperation between the two navies amid evolving geopolitical dynamics in the Indo-Pacific.

Professional Exchanges and Naval Training Cooperation

The port visit featured multiple professional and operational engagements between personnel of both navies.

Activities included:

• Cross-deck visits

• Operational interactions

• Exchange of maritime best practices

• Technical and tactical discussions

The crew of IOS Sagar also visited the Bangladesh Naval Academy, where Indian naval personnel interacted with officer cadets and faculty members, fostering deeper institutional and professional linkages between future naval leadership of both countries.

Officials said such exchanges are vital for building long-term interoperability, mutual understanding and coordinated maritime response capabilities.

Naval Diplomacy Through Cultural and Social Engagements

Alongside operational interactions, the visit also emphasized cultural diplomacy and people-to-people naval ties.

A formal deck reception hosted onboard INS Sunayna brought together senior leadership from the Bangladesh Navy and distinguished guests, while Indian naval personnel also attended a reception organised by the Bangladesh Navy.

Friendly sporting activities and cultural engagements between sailors and officers from both sides further strengthened camaraderie and mutual trust, reflecting the increasingly close relationship between the two maritime forces.

Military observers say such soft-power engagements play an important role in strengthening defence partnerships beyond formal military frameworks.

India and Bangladesh Conduct Joint PASSEX in Bay of Bengal

One of the most significant operational highlights of the visit was the conduct of a Passage Exercise (PASSEX) following INS Sunayna’s departure from Chattogram.

The exercise involved:

• INS Sunayna

• Bangladesh Navy ship BNS Protoy

• Bangladesh Navy air assets

The PASSEX included coordinated maritime drills and advanced surface manoeuvres designed to enhance operational coordination, communication and tactical interoperability between the two navies.

Defence experts note that PASSEX exercises are increasingly important in ensuring readiness for:

• Maritime security operations

• Search and rescue missions

• Anti-piracy operations

• Humanitarian assistance missions

• Joint regional security responses

The exercise also demonstrates growing trust and operational synergy between India and Bangladesh in safeguarding critical sea lanes and maintaining stability in the Bay of Bengal.

Bay of Bengal Emerging as Strategic Maritime Theatre

The enhanced naval engagement comes amid growing strategic attention on the Bay of Bengal and the wider Indian Ocean Region, which has become increasingly important for global trade, energy security and geopolitical competition.

India has been actively strengthening maritime partnerships with neighbouring countries under its “Neighbourhood First” and SAGAR doctrines to ensure a stable, secure and rules-based maritime environment.

Bangladesh, with its strategic coastline and expanding maritime capabilities, is emerging as a key regional maritime partner for India in areas including:

• Blue economy cooperation

• Maritime trade security

• Coastal infrastructure

• Naval modernisation

• Disaster response coordination

• Indo-Pacific stability

Strategic experts say closer India-Bangladesh naval cooperation also contributes to broader regional efforts aimed at countering non-traditional maritime threats and enhancing collective maritime resilience.

India Expanding Maritime Outreach Across Indian Ocean Region

INS Sunayna’s deployment reflects India’s broader push to expand defence diplomacy and maritime engagement across the Indian Ocean Region through operational deployments, naval exercises, training missions and humanitarian partnerships.

The IOS SAGAR initiative has increasingly become a platform for strengthening regional cooperation and projecting India’s role as a responsible maritime stakeholder committed to ensuring peace, stability and inclusive growth across the Indo-Pacific.

Officials said the successful Chattogram visit and the subsequent PASSEX reaffirm the shared commitment of India and Bangladesh to maintaining security, stability and cooperative maritime governance in the region.

As INS Sunayna proceeds toward Sri Lanka, the deployment continues to symbolise India’s evolving maritime strategy focused on partnership-building, interoperability and collective regional security in the Indian Ocean.