Bangladesh, India coast guards to conduct joint operations

We have prepared a SOP to conduct the operation which will help ensure maritime security and build bilateral cooperation between the paramilitary forces Mohammad Anwar Hossain Director, Bangladesh Coast Guard

In a first, the Bangladesh Coast Guard and Indian Coast Guard will conduct a joint operation in the sea, including sea territories of both countries, to combat transnational crime and ensure maritime safety, said sources in the Home Ministry and Coast Guard.
Bangladesh Coast Guard headquarters has already formulated Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to conduct the operation as per a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by the two maritime safety forces on June 6.
Sources said that the SOP contains nine-point objectives and is currently under scrutiny of the ministries concerned.
“Both Coast Guards carry out search and rescue operation at sea based on request from the other party if possible.
They carry out suppression and prevention of maritime crimes such as piracy, armed robbery, illegal trafficking of arms, human trafficking and smuggling of harmful medical drugs, narcotics and psychotropic substances. Exchange of information relating to ships, and that includes accused persons who are involved in criminal activities within the scope of this MoU and travelling to or across the ports of both parties, the SOP reads.
It further stated that endeavours must be made by both parties to restrain fishermen from crossing the maritime boundary and entering other’s waters. It also vows on exchange of information and providing mutual legal assistance relating to any pollution at sea, attend training, courses, workshops, seminars, conferences and programmes. Exchange of specialists' visits to each other’s ports by their ships to promote cooperation also constitutes part of the SOP.
The draft further says that similar to high-level talks between border forces of Bangladesh and India, Coast Guards of both countries will also hold Director General-level talks every year, alternately in the two countries, to settle problematic issues if required. “If any assistance is requested by Indian ships operating in Bangladesh waters, Bangladesh Coast Guard will cooperate and take appropriate action to provide support for the maintenance of Indian ships,” the draft adds.
Director (Operations) of Bangladesh Coast Guard, Captain Mohammad Anwar Hossain, told The Independent that both paramilitary forces, Bangladesh Coast Guard and Indian Coast Guard, are yet to finalise the date of conducting the joint operation in the sea.
“We have prepared a SOP to conduct the operation which will help ensure maritime security and build bilateral cooperation between the paramilitary forces,” he said. The two countries share a 290 nautical miles long maritime border.
The Bangladesh Coast Guard has taken assistance from the United States Pacific Command (USPACOM), a Unified Combatant Command of the US armed forces responsible for the Pacific Ocean area to construct 30 coastal crisis management centres (CCMC) at different points of the Bangladesh coastline to help local people during disasters.
The Bangladesh Coast Guard, whose motto is “Guardian at Sea”, started its operational activities with two patrol craft received from Bangladesh Navy on February 14, 1995.

Bangladesh, India coast guards to conduct joint operations

We have prepared a SOP to conduct the operation which will help ensure maritime security and build bilateral cooperation between the paramilitary forces Mohammad Anwar Hossain Director, Bangladesh Coast Guard

In a first, the Bangladesh Coast Guard and Indian Coast Guard will conduct a joint operation in the sea, including sea territories of both countries, to combat transnational crime and ensure maritime safety, said sources in the Home Ministry and Coast Guard. Bangladesh Coast Guard headquarters has already formulated Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to conduct the operation as per a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by the two maritime safety forces on June 6. Sources said that the SOP contains nine-point objectives and is currently under scrutiny of the ministries concerned. Both Coast Guards carry out search and rescue operation at sea based on request from the other party if possible. They carry out suppression and prevention of maritime crimes such as piracy, armed robbery, illegal trafficking of arms, human trafficking and smuggling of harmful medical drugs, narcotics and psychotropic substances. Exchange of information relating to ships, and that includes accused persons who are involved in criminal activities within the scope of this MoU and travelling to or across the ports of both parties, the SOP reads. It further stated that endeavours must be made by both parties to restrain fishermen from crossing the maritime boundary and entering others waters. It also vows on exchange of information and providing mutual legal assistance relating to any pollution at sea, attend training, courses, workshops, seminars, conferences and programmes. Exchange of specialists visits to each others ports by their ships to promote cooperation also constitutes part of the SOP. The draft further says that similar to high-level talks between border forces of Bangladesh and India, Coast Guards of both countries will also hold Director General-level talks every year, alternately in the two countries, to settle problematic issues if required. If any assistance is requested by Indian ships operating in Bangladesh waters, Bangladesh Coast Guard will cooperate and take appropriate action to provide support for the maintenance of Indian ships, the draft adds. Director (Operations) of Bangladesh Coast Guard, Captain Mohammad Anwar Hossain, told The Independent that both paramilitary forces, Bangladesh Coast Guard and Indian Coast Guard, are yet to finalise the date of conducting the joint operation in the sea. We have prepared a SOP to conduct the operation which will help ensure maritime security and build bilateral cooperation between the paramilitary forces, he said. The two countries share a 290 nautical miles long maritime border. The Bangladesh Coast Guard has taken assistance from the United States Pacific Command (USPACOM), a Unified Combatant Command of the US armed forces responsible for the Pacific Ocean area to construct 30 coastal crisis management centres (CCMC) at different points of the Bangladesh coastline to help local people during disasters. The Bangladesh Coast Guard, whose motto is Guardian at Sea, started its operational activities with two patrol craft received from Bangladesh Navy on February 14, 1995.