Bangladesh Navy among 17 trainees at INS Venduruthy diving school, Kochi
Synopsis
Even as India-Bangladesh diplomatic relations remain unsettled — with Hasina's extradition unresolved and a new government in Dhaka — Bangladesh Navy personnel joined 16 other trainees from six nations to graduate from INS Venduruthy's elite clearance diving programme, Asia's only such institution. It is a quiet but telling signal that military ties are holding where politics has frayed.
Key Takeaways
17 trainees from Bangladesh, Ghana, Kenya, Malaysia, Mauritius, Myanmar, Sri Lanka , and Vietnam completed clearance diving courses at INS Venduruthy , Kochi.
The batch comprised 09 Officers and 08 Sailors from seven Friendly Foreign Nations .
INS Venduruthy is the only known clearance diving training facility in Asia ; courses run 22–37 weeks .
India-Bangladesh political relations have been strained since Sheikh Hasina 's ouster on 5 August 2024 , though ties are reportedly stabilising under Prime Minister Tarique Rahman .
New Delhi has declined Dhaka 's requests to extradite Hasina , which remains an unresolved diplomatic issue.
Officers and sailors from the Bangladesh Navy were among 17 trainees from seven Friendly Foreign Nations (FFNs) who successfully completed clearance diving courses at the Indian Navy Diving School, INS Venduruthy, located on Wellington Island in Kochi, Kerala. The passing-out ceremony underscores that political tensions between India and Bangladesh have not severed military-to-military cooperation between the two neighbours.
Who Completed the Course
The graduating batch comprised 09 Officers and 08 Sailors drawn from Bangladesh, Ghana, Kenya, Malaysia, Mauritius, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam. The Indian Navy Diving School posted on X that the trainees had completed 'one of the Indian Navy's most demanding specialist training programmes, reinforcing professional excellence, interoperability and enduring maritime partnerships.'
What Clearance Diving Involves
Clearance diving is widely regarded as the most technically demanding and hazardous form of military diving. Trainees are trained in the handling of underwater explosives, advanced sub-surface equipment, hull salvage operations, and covert surveillance. Such divers can be deployed to neutralise enemy mines, deter hostile warship movements, or conduct clandestine underwater reconnaissance. Modern clearance diving curricula also incorporate basic survival skills that lay the groundwork for advanced combat diving qualifications.
INS Venduruthy is the only known clearance diving training institution in Asia. Courses run between 22 and 37 weeks, depending on rank and selected modules — a duration that reflects the complexity and rigour of the programme.
The Diplomatic Backdrop
Defence cooperation between India and Bangladesh had reached its highest point during the tenure of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. That relationship came under severe strain following her ouster on 5 August 2024, after which she departed to India. The subsequent interim government, led by Mohammad Yunus, drew concern in New Delhi over moves to reset ties with Pakistan — despite the shared history of 1971 — and a perceptible tilt toward China.
Relations have reportedly begun to stabilise following general elections held in February 2025, which brought Tarique Rahman to power as Prime Minister. However, Hasina's continued presence in India remains a live diplomatic irritant, with New Delhi declining to honour Dhaka's extradition requests.
What the Graduation Signals
The completion of this multinational diving course at INS Venduruthy signals that institutional military linkages between India and its neighbours — including Bangladesh — continue to function even when political relations are under stress. This is consistent with India's broader 'Neighbourhood First' defence engagement posture, which has historically kept military training pipelines open regardless of diplomatic turbulence. The next cohort's composition will be watched as a barometer of how bilateral ties evolve under the Rahman administration.
Point of View
At least in the short run. India has historically used defence training pipelines as a stabilising instrument with neighbours, and this cohort's composition suggests that channel remains intact. The real question is whether the Rahman government will deepen or merely maintain inherited defence links — and whether New Delhi's refusal to extradite Hasina will eventually become a ceiling on how far the reset can go. Watching the next FFN cohort list will tell you more about the state of India-Bangladesh relations than any diplomatic communiqué.
NationPress
11 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Which countries participated in the clearance diving course at INS Venduruthy?
Trainees from Bangladesh, Ghana, Kenya, Malaysia, Mauritius, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam — a total of seven Friendly Foreign Nations — completed the course. The batch comprised 09 Officers and 08 Sailors, totalling 17 graduates.
What is clearance diving and why is it significant?
Clearance diving is the most demanding form of military diving, involving underwater explosive handling, hull salvage, covert surveillance, and advanced sub-surface equipment. INS Venduruthy in Kochi is the only known clearance diving training institution in Asia, making its courses highly sought after by regional navies.
How long is the clearance diving course at INS Venduruthy?
Courses at the Indian Navy Diving School run between 22 and 37 weeks, depending on the trainee's rank and the specific modules selected. The variable duration reflects the depth and complexity of the specialist training.
What is the current state of India-Bangladesh military and diplomatic relations?
Defence ties between India and Bangladesh have continued despite political strains that followed Sheikh Hasina's ouster on 5 August 2024. Relations are reportedly stabilising under Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, who came to power after February 2025 elections, though Hasina's presence in India and New Delhi's refusal to extradite her remain unresolved issues.
Why does Bangladesh Navy training in India matter diplomatically?
It signals that military-to-military cooperation between India and Bangladesh has remained functional despite diplomatic friction. India has used defence training programmes as a key instrument of its 'Neighbourhood First' policy, and Bangladesh's continued participation in elite courses at INS Venduruthy indicates that institutional ties have not been severed.
