Why US Army is on ‘secret’ visit to Bangladesh? What is Yunus regime planning? Reports say their mission is…

About 120 officers of the US Army and US Air Force landed in Chittagong from Dhaka on a US-Bangladesh Airlines flight on September 10 and checked in to the Radisson Blu Hotel.

US-Bangladesh Relations: Bangladesh and United States have enhanced military contacts post the fall of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, and now reports have emerged that a large group of US Army and US Air Force personnel have arrived in the South Asian country, reportedly for a joint exercise with the Bangladesh Army.

Why US Army arrived in Bangladesh?

According to media reports, about 120 officers of the US Army and USAF landed in Chittagong from Dhaka on a US-Bangladesh Airlines flight on September 10 and checked in to the Radisson Blu Hotel. Reports suggest that 85 rooms in the hotel have been booked for the US military personnel, but interestingly, none of their names are listed in the hotel’s guest register.

As per reports, the US officers have arrived to take part in a joint-military exercise with the Bangladesh Army, and expected to depart Chittagong on September 20. Their arrival in Bangladesh comes days after the body of a US Special Forces command officer was found at the Westin Hotel in Dhaka on August 31.

The deceased, identified by the Dhaka Police as 50-year-old Terrence Arvelle Jackson, had arrived in Bangladesh in April. His death occurred under suspicious circumstances, though neither Bangladesh, nor the US have commented on the incident.

What are US troops doing in Bangladesh?

Notably, an Egyptian Air Force transport plane landed at Chittagong’s Shah Amanat International Airport on September 14, and day later, US troops visited the Patenga Air Base of the Bangladesh Air Force.

Previously, US forces had participated in two joint exercises — Tiger Lightning and Operation Lightning–, with the Bangladesh Army, which were designed to boost peacekeeping readiness and promote interoperability between the armed forces of two countries, according to officials.

These exercises also aimed to strengthen regional security and explore areas where the US could support the Bangladesh Army, they said.

Military and strategic contacts between Dhaka and Washington have intensified under Bangladesh Muhammad Yunus-led interim regime which came to the help post the fall of deposed PM Sheikh Hasina who was ousted from power in August last year following violent anti-government protests in the country.