Embassy cites security testing as intelligence agencies suspect surveillance, amid expanding US-Bangladesh military cooperation and planned Bay of Bengal exercises
by Enayet Kabir
October 25, 2026
View attachment 220855
An unusual drone flight over the US Embassy in Baridhara, Dhaka, caused a stir on Sunday, October 25, 2026, when an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flew over the premises for approximately 20 minutes, between 11:05 am and 11:25 am.
The embassy said the drone had been flown experimentally to conduct security checks involving its officers and staff and assess the embassy’s security arrangements.
The embassy’s security section had reportedly informed the Gulshan Diplomatic Security Division in advance.
However, several Bangladeshi intelligence agencies suspect that the drone may have been deployed for intelligence surveillance.
The United States has been using drones for years to expand intelligence surveillance in Bangladesh and India’s northeastern region.
Multiple intelligence sources in Bangladesh and India have repeatedly claimed that the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) frequently conducts unauthorised drone flights over Dhaka and Chattogram to collect security-related information about Bangladesh and India’s Northeast.
Security analysts maintain that drones play a crucial role in contemporary military strategy.
Iran and Ukraine have demonstrated their effectiveness in drone attacks against the far more powerful United States and Russia, respectively, helping prolong their conflicts.
A security drone flight over the US Embassy in Bangladesh is therefore not an ordinary occurrence.
Earlier on Sunday, at 10 am, the US Embassy’s Assistant Defence Attaché, Major Carsten Fletcher, met Brigadier General Intekhab Haider Khan, Director of the Armed Forces Division (Dir & Dat).
The hour-long meeting took place in the multipurpose hall at Army Headquarters.
Discussions focused on progress in military cooperation and information-sharing between the armed forces of the two countries.
Preparations have reportedly begun for a winter naval exercise between the United States and Bangladesh in the Bay of Bengal.
Before the exercise, Lieutenant General Joel B. Vowell, Deputy Commanding General of United States Army Pacific (USARPAC), may visit Chattogram.
An advance team from the US Marine Corps is also expected to visit Dhaka and Chattogram.
On October 6, 2026, the Chief of Army Staff of Bangladesh attended the Land Forces International Land Defence Exposition and Chief of Army Symposium 2026 in Perth, Australia.
A day earlier, on October 5, General Waker-Uz-Zaman, PSC, held a separate bilateral meeting with Australian Army Chief Lieutenant General Susan Coyle, AM, CSC, DSM.
During discussions with Lieutenant General Joel B. Vowell, the two sides had considered organising a Disaster Response Exercise and Exchange (DREE) to strengthen disaster-response preparedness.
They also discussed introducing training courses at the Bangladesh Institute of Peace Support Operation Training (BIPSOT), funded by the Global Peace Operations Initiative (GPOI), and increasing US participation in training programmes at Bangladesh’s National Defence College (NDC) and Defence Services Command and Staff College (DSCSC).
General Waker subsequently embarked on an extended visit to the United States. Bangladesh’s US Ambassador, Brent Christensen, was already in the country.
A defence intelligence source claims that Washington has long been pressing Bangladesh to share regional security information and facilitate a permanent US military presence in the Bay of Bengal.
General Waker has reportedly been urged to support these objectives.
The United States has also allegedly been pressing for the implementation of confidential military provisions under the Reciprocal Trade Agreement (RTA), the trade deal signed with the Muhammad Yunus-led government.
General Waker, however, has consistently maintained that such decisions fall within the government’s jurisdiction, expressing his inability to act independently on the matter.
His latest visit reportedly brought no change in that position.
On Saturday, October 17, 2026, General Waker-Uz-Zaman returned to Bangladesh after official visits to Australia and the United States.
The following day, he attended the flag-presentation ceremony of the 7 Regiment in Savar.
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman was the chief guest at the ceremony.
General Waker did not visit any Durga Puja pandal during this year’s autumn festival.
On Tuesday, October 20, he observed the Bangladesh Army’s annual air-defence firing exercise at the Nidania Air Defence Firing Range in Cox’s Bazar.
Since General Waker assumed the post of Army Chief, emphasis has been placed on implementing plans to strengthen Bangladesh’s air-defence capabilities.
Air-defence regiments have been established in Savar, near Dhaka, and in Cox’s Bazar.
Air-defence systems have also been procured from China and Türkiye.
Waker has placed particular emphasis on continuously improving professional expertise in air defence and maintaining the highest level of military preparedness to deal with any eventuality.
There is also a possibility that the United States may supply air- and drone-defence systems for the Bangladesh Navy.
