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The Coast Guard also received several operational items from Australia, including helmets, boarding vests, self-inflatable life jackets, knee and elbow pads, and tactical gloves.
“They will also support us with modern technologies. We expect to receive drones soon to enhance maritime surveillance,” said the DG.
Rear Admiral Ziaul emphasised the importance of boosting regional maritime awareness, joint training, intelligence sharing, and strategic coordination to combat maritime threats.
He said Australian support has already enhanced the Coast Guard’s operational capacity.
Rear Admiral Brett Sonter noted that a memorandum titled “Civil Maritime Security and Maritime Safety” was signed in 2024 to support cooperation on maritime threats.
“As part of that agreement, we are working together to counter illegal fishing, drug smuggling, human trafficking, and people smuggling. We have already conducted multiple training sessions,” he said.
“We want to take this relationship to the next level. As Indian Ocean neighbours, it’s crucial to address shared challenges,” he added.
NO SECURITY THREAT IN ST MARTIN’S
There is no security threat on St Martin’s Island, said the Coast Guard chief.
“Everything is normal in St Martin’s. Just as we live peacefully in Dhaka, people in St Martin’s are also living peacefully,” he told reporters.
He said members of the Coast Guard, Navy, police, and other law enforcement agencies are always stationed on the island, so there is no cause for concern.
On the issue of push-in incidents from India, he confirmed one such case on the eastern side of the maritime boundary, but added that due to strong vigilance, no further incidents have occurred.
Regarding the Myanmar maritime border, he said the Coast Guard maintains a working understanding with rebel groups to ensure security.
Commenting on recent incidents involving Bangladeshi fishermen, he said those captured by the Arakan Army had crossed into foreign waters. “There has been no incident of rebel groups entering our waters to abduct fishermen,” he added.
Houseboats
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Contacted, Mohammad Rezaul Karim said, “We are not restricting houseboats from Tanguar Haor entirely, but from entering certain areas to conserve the biodiversity and environment. When numerous boats gather at the watchtower, it disrupts the ecosystem of this particular part of the Ramsar Conservation Site.”
Over the years, Tanguar Haor has become a popular tourist destination, with hundreds of houseboats navigating its waters during summer and monsoon. Environmentalists have raised concerns as the haor’s biodiversity is increasingly under threat.