Defence & Security 15 May 2026

INS Sunayna Completes Bangladesh Port Call Under IOS SAGAR Initiative

INS Sunayna completed a port call at Chattogram, Bangladesh under the IOS SAGAR initiative, holding a PASSEX with BNS Protoy and carrying personnel from 16 partner nations before sailing on to Colombo.

upsc defence ssc

Indian Navy ship INS Sunayna completed a port call at Chattogram in Bangladesh as part of the Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) SAGAR initiative. The deployment was carried out under the Ministry of Defence to strengthen friendly ties between India and its maritime neighbours.

During the visit, the ship took part in joint activities with the Bangladesh Navy. These included a Passage Exercise (PASSEX) and coordinated sea manoeuvres with the Bangladesh Navy ship BNS Protoy. Such exercises help the two navies practise working together at sea.

A special feature of the mission was that INS Sunayna carried personnel from 16 partner nations on board. This made the deployment a shared effort, showing how countries of the region can cooperate on maritime security.

After leaving Bangladesh, the ship continued its journey towards Colombo in Sri Lanka. The IOS SAGAR initiative supports India's vision of being a trusted security partner in the Indian Ocean region and reflects the wider SAGAR idea of 'Security and Growth for All in the Region'.

Key Points to Remember

  • INS Sunayna completed a port call at Chattogram, Bangladesh
  • Deployment under the IOS (Indian Ocean Ship) SAGAR initiative, Ministry of Defence
  • Held a Passage Exercise (PASSEX) with Bangladesh Navy ship BNS Protoy
  • Carried personnel from 16 partner nations on board
  • Next stop: Colombo, Sri Lanka
  • SAGAR = Security and Growth for All in the Region

Exam Relevance

Relevant for UPSC (International Relations — neighbourhood, Indian Ocean), Defence exams (NDA/CDS), and Banking/SSC General Awareness.

UPSC DEFENCE SSC
ins-sunayna ios-sagar indian-navy bangladesh passex indian-ocean