ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Navy Chief Admiral Naveed Ashraf on Thursday concluded his visit to Bangladesh, where he met with senior military leadership to enhance defence cooperation, a military statement said on Thursday.
According to the military’s media wing, Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), the navy chief’s visit coincided with the Pakistan Navy Ship ‘Saif’ being docked at Bangladesh’s Chattogram port.
“During the visit, the Naval Chief held meetings with Chief of Army Staff General Waker-Uz-Zaman, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral M Nazmul Hassan, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan, and Principal Staff Officer Armed Forces Division Lieutenant General S M Kamrul Hassan,” it said.
It added that the discussions focused on matters of mutual professional interest, regional maritime security, and ways to enhance defence cooperation between Pakistan and Bangladesh. “Both sides reaffirmed their shared commitment to peace and stability in the region,” the ISPR said.
Admiral Ashraf also visited the National Defence College and the Bangladesh Naval Academy, the DGPR said, where he appreciated the high standards and emphasised the need for advanced training in an evolving maritime domain.
“While in Chattogram, Commander Chattogram (COMCHIT), Commander Bangladesh Navy Fleet (COMBAN) and Area Superintendent Dockyard (ASD) made calls on Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf,” the statement read.
He further visited the Bangladesh Naval Academy (BNA), met with the Commandant and faculty, and appreciated the Academy’s professional standards. He emphasised academic excellence, collaborative training, and the need for advanced naval education in the evolving maritime environment.
Later, a reception was held aboard the PNS Saif, which the statement said was attended by Dhaka’s navy chief, who was received by Admiral Ashraf and Pakistani High Commissioner Imran Haider.
The event highlighted the commitment to peaceful cooperation in the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean Region.
“The visit marked a significant step toward strengthening bilateral naval ties, fostering mutual respect, and advancing maritime security cooperation between Pakistan and Bangladesh,” the statement said.
Last month, Pakistan’s Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC), General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, paid an official visit to Bangladesh and met Bangladesh’s Chief of Army Staff, General Waker-Uz-Zaman, in Dhaka to discuss expanding defence cooperation and regional security.
Earlier, in January, Bangladesh’s Principal Staff Officer (PSO) met Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi, where both sides emphasised the importance of building an enduring partnership between their countries to remain resilient against external pressures.
Ties have improved since the fall of Bangladesh’s former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s administration, who was seen as closely aligned with India and critical of Pakistan. This shift occurred following the student-led uprising in August 2024.
Pakistan has sought to strengthen its relations with Bangladesh in recent months, particularly as tensions remain between Dhaka and New Delhi, following India’s decision to offer asylum to Hasina after she fled Bangladesh.
