BD-US partnership helps secure maritime border

CHITTAGONG: US Ambassador in Dhaka Dan W Mozena Tuesday said the partnership between Bangladesh and America helped Bangladesh build ever greater capacity to secure its maritime border against terrorism and all forms of illegal activities.
He said the partnership also helped Bangladesh secure its maritime border against those who seek to use the seas to advance terrorism and violent extremism, traffic drugs, people, and arms and against those who seek to steal Bangladesh’s fish and other maritime assets, according to a news agency.
The US diplomat was speaking at the closing ceremony of Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) at Chittagong Port.
Mozena said the maritime partnership between America and Bangladesh has helped the Bangladesh Navy and the Bangladesh Coast Guard make great progress in making the Bay of Bengal more secure by slashing robberies on the Bay by 70 per cent, which has brought shipping insurance rates down by 40 per cent.
“Chittagong is no longer listed as a high-risk seaport,” said the Ambassador adding that Bangladesh is using its expanded capacity to great effect.