Dhaka: Two Bangladesh Navy’s largest frigates—Somudra Joy and Somudra Avijan—left Chittagong Naval Jetty on Sunday for India and Sri Lank as part of goodwill visits to the two friendly countries.

A smartly turned out contingent of Bangladesh Navy bade farewell to the ships as bugle played the music, said a Navy press release.

Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Personnel) Rear Admiral M Shaheen Iqbal, Chittagong Naval Area Commander Rear Admiral Mohammad Akhter Habib, high local navy officials, and family members of the officials and sailors of the frigates were present.

As part of a training programme, a 511-member Naval delegation, including officials, cadets, sailors and representatives of different ministries, forces and organisations, will stay at India’s Port Blair from 21 to 25 September and at Sri Lank’s Colombo Port from 29 September to 4 October. The delegation includes 24 female officials and cadets.

The main objective of the visits is to train newly recruited officials of the Navy and cadets, the release added.

The training visits are expected to improve the professional standards of those new officials, cadets and sailors joined it alongside strengthen further the existing friendly relations with the two countries, it added.

The two ships are scheduled to return home on 9 October.