The Bangladesh Army will conduct a five-day anti-aircraft firing exercise in the coastal areas of Fouzdarhat and Halishahar in Chattogram. In view of the exercise, the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) has issued a cautionary notice asking vessels to avoid the designated danger zones.

The information was disclosed in a navigational warning issued by the BIWTA’s Navigation Department on Monday (October 5).

According to the notice, trainees of OBC (AD)-40, under the supervision of the Bangladesh Army’s School of Army Air Defence, will conduct the firing exercise at the Fouzdarhat Air Defence Firing Range from October 19 to 23. The exercise will take place daily from 7am to 11pm.

The BIWTA said the designated danger zone covers areas under the jurisdiction of Sitakunda, Pahartali, Akbar Shah and Halishahar police stations in Chattogram. The firing zone extends 12,000 yards, or 6.8 miles, along the north-south boundaries over the sea and reaches up to an altitude of 22,000 feet above sea level.

All vessels operating along the waterways have been requested to avoid the designated firing range and adjacent danger zones during the exercise, the BIWTA said.

The authority also instructed vessels to maintain the specified draft and operate with extra caution under the supervision of its pilots. It further advised that vessels be operated by experienced navigators or drivers.