The Bangladesh and U.S. navies begin eight days of maritime safety and security exercises Sept. 18, during the first-ever Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Bangladesh 2011.
The event began with a ceremony at Bangladesh Navy Base Issa Khan. It marks the first time Bangladesh has participated in the 17 year-old CARAT exercise series, which the U.S. Navy conducts with navies of seven other Southeast Asian nations. CARAT participants now include Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.