Bangladesh Navy started Training exercise with USA navy & Marines in chittagong . Titled Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Started in , Nov. 4 2018. The last training cooperation with US navy was in 2014 . With nearly a half century of diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Bangladesh, this year marks the 24th anniversary of the CARAT exercise series with bilateral engagements between Bangladesh and many south asian nations including Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia,  Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka .

Mohammad Nazmul Hassan, Commander, Bangladesh Navy Fleet. said 

“Bangladesh is highly privileged to host CARAT,Like previous years, I’m sure CARAT 2018 will be a great source of learning for all of our officers,
We all understand the complexities of the maritime domain, and we need collaborative initiatives for all like CARAT,”

Adm. Mohammad Nazmul Hassan, Commander, Bangladesh Navy Fleet

Task Force 73/Commander, Logistics Group Western Pacific (CTF 73/CLWP) is a U.S. Navytask forceof the United States Seventh Fleet. CTF 73/CLWP is the U.S. 7th Fleet’s provider of combat-ready logistics . 

Rear Adm. Joey Tynch, Commander Task Force 73 said in a statement 

The long-standing partnership between Bangladesh and the United States has contributed to peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region,These engagements reflect our shared belief that regional challenges increasingly require cooperative solutions by capable naval forces

Rear Adm. Joey Tynch, Commander Task Force 73

Lt.j.g. Ben Ralen, U.S. lead planner of CARAT Bangladesh said 

“CARAT Bangladesh scenarios are tailored with inputs from the U.S. and Bangladesh Navy to meet evolving threats through exchanges such as in explosive ordnance disposal, Marine tactics and dive operations, in addition to being a venue to improve best practices in information sharing and maritime domain awareness

Lt.j.g. Ben Ralen

Sailors and Marines across five ships including a guided missile frigate and patrol craft from the Bangladesh Navy, and a maritime patrol aircraft and dry cargo ship USNS PFC Dewayne T. Williams (T-AK-3009) from the U.S. Navy, conducted a series of cooperative evolutions ashore and at-sea. Joint evolutions are designed to highlight the ability for both navies to work together in ensuring maritime security, stability and prosperity

Along with the annual CARAT exercise, the U.S. and Bangladesh Navy continue to participate in a growing number of bilateral and multilateral maritime exercises including this year’s 17th annual Southeast Asia Cooperation Training (SEACAT) and 26th biennial Rim of Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise. Maritime exercises conducted between both partner navies are designed to address the full spectrum of maritime operations with CARAT focusing on maritime security operations and SEACAT on information sharing and maritime domain awareness

U.S. Marines assigned to Charlie Third Platoon, Fleet Anti Terrorism Security Team Pacific (FASTPAC), conduct training with Bangladesh Navy Commandos at Special Warfare Diving and Salvage Command in Chittagong, Bangladesh during Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) 2018. CARAT Bangladesh 2018 marks the 24th iteration of the maritime exercise series and reflects the strong and mature partnership between the U.S. and Bangladesh Navy.

The sea phase will encompass complex scenarios in the Bay of Bengal to include a tracking exercise aimed at increasing both navies’ ability to together track and pursue targets through the coordinated deployment of surface ships and maritime patrol aircrafts, division tactics designed to enhance communication as ships sail together in complex maneuvers, and a screening exercise to increase proficiency of ships to defend from potential threats

U.S. Explosive Ordinance Technicians (EOD) and Bangladesh EOD 

U.S. Marines and Bangladesh Commandos  Together

Navy Divers from MDSU1 train with Bangladesh Navy Divers

CARAT Bangladesh Opening Ceremony

CARAT Bangladesh