When USCGC Rush becomes BNS Somudra Avijan

An interesting and eventful transfer ceremony of US Coast Guard  vessel, USCGC Rush to Bangladesh Navy, renamed as BNS Somudra Avijan, was held on May 06, 2015 at the Coast Guard Island, Alameda, California.
 The entire show and the  drill by the crew of the US Navy in the lowering of US colours and the raising of Bangladesh colours by the crew of the Bangladesh Navy was done very precisely and smartly to the great appreciation and applause by  guests present at the show.  There was a "sentimental" feeling among the crew  of the US Navy, the  crew of the Bangladesh Navy, the Bangladesh embassy staff  and the Bangladesh community members  as this transfer strengthens the bond of friendship between the US  and Bangladesh.
 For the benefit of the readers, the term "lowering of US colours" means that at the command of the Captain of the US Coast Guard, the US flag is lowered from its masts and its crew disembarks. The term "raising of the Bangladesh colours" means that at the command of the Captain of the Bangladesh Navy, the Bangladesh Navy crew embarks the ship and raises the Bangladesh flag at its masts.
 The signing of the "Transfer Documents" was done by Ambassador  Marcia Bernicat, US ambassador to Bangladesh and  Vice-Admiral Muhammad Farid Habib, Chief of Naval Staff, Bangladesh Navy. The occasion was graced by Ambassador Mohammad Ziauddin, Bangladesh Ambassador to the US. The welcoming remarks were made by the Chief of Staff, US Coast Guard Pacific Area.
 BNS Somudra Avijan will join its sister ship BNS Somudra Joy, formerly US Coast Guard vessel USCGC Jarvis. The US has offered these ships to Bangladesh under Excess Defence Articles (EDA) of Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme. Wendy Sherman, US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, recently said by improving its naval capabilities, Bangladesh would become a key maritime security provider in the Bay of Bengal.
 The programme ended with benediction (formal invocation of blessedness). An officer of the Bangladesh Navy recited a verse from the Holy Quran, followed by its transliteration in English. All present at the ceremony stood in solemn silence.
 After this, the Bangladesh Navy personnel invited all to join them for lunch on board the ship. What was most interesting to observe was the good feeling and interaction between the Bangladesh community and the US citizens.
 Bengali feelings work magically abroad, not only in the US but also world over where there are large numbers of immigrants of Bangladeshi origin.
 As a new immigrant here in the US, I do notice the spirit and enthusiasm of the Bangladesh community members who have  remarkably  adjusted their lives in  the US but still remember with fondness their country of origin, Bengali culture and values and take great pride in participating in the programmes and festivals of Ekushey February, Boishakhi mela, Ramadan, Eid-ul Fitr, Eid-ul-Adha, and religious events of Bengalis of other faiths, with equal gusto and grandeur as  done in Bangladesh itself.
 It is because of this feeling that the team of Bangladesh Navy now in the USA undergoing training with the US Rush crew to become familiar with the ship joined the Bangladeshi community at the Boishakhi picnic and had extended their invitation to us to attend this ceremony.
 The writer, presently in the US, is a freelancer. He previously worked for the Foreign Charter Coaster's Administration, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority and various agencies of the United Nations in Bangladesh,
Somalia and Uganda.
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