Naval base at Chittagong

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34130, 17 April 1976, Page 14

Naval base at Chittagong

Sir, — I was rather surprised at the implications in Cedric Mentiplay’s article in this morning’s issue of “The Press” that the Soviet Union had “another fine naval base” in Chittagong, Bangia- ■ desh. As a resident of Chittagong from 1973 until October. 1975, I find this surprising. The Soviet salvage team in Chittagong finished its salvaging operations by June 30, 1975, ' after being criticised for igoing deliberately slowly. A Ismail number of Russians -istill remain in Chittagong where they are responsible for running a trawler training centre Bangladesh’s relations with the Soviet (Union are cool at present, land I would question very [much whether.your writer’s fone-day sojourn in Chittaigong in early 1974 enabled Shim to assess accurately the situation or to make the ’ statements that he . has Imade. — Yours, etc., SUSAN SMITH. April 9, 1976. [Mr Mentiplay replies; “My information, obtained from two separate diplomatic sources, is that there is still a sizeable Russian presence in Bangladesh. I cited my observation, but took care in my article to note the approximate date. My information is that the Russians have made a point of withdrawing from the city and environs of Chittagong — but may be found in force not far away. This is confirmed by recent United States visitors, who express concern at the situation.”]