Chief of the Army Staff of Bangladesh General Mohammad Abdul Mubeen, who arrived here on a six-day goodwill visit, on Monday met his Indian counterpart, General Deepak Kapoor, and discussed issues of bilateral and regional interest.
The visit, to last till March 20, assumes special significance in the light of improving military cooperation between the two countries in consonance with India's growing relationship with Bangladesh.
Although no details were available, India has security concerns, including insurgency in the northeast where infiltrators from across the border are involved, besides the issue of smuggling of arms, explosives and drugs, including supply through sea routes connected to Bangladesh. Action against terror organisations such as the Harkat-ul-Jehad-al Islami (HuJI) known to provide training to insurgent groups is also among the issues.
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Multifaceted ties
India-Bangladesh relations are multifaceted and founded on historical linkages. The successful culmination of the recent visit of Bangladesh Prime Minister to India in January contributed significantly to the consolidation of the existing ties.
Military-to-military cooperation between the armed forces of Bangladesh and India encompasses exchange of high and medium-level visits, making use of courses in each other's training institutions, witnessing designed exercises by military observers from both sides, exchanging war veterans, sharing experience in disaster management, sports and adventure activities.
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During the visit, Gen. Mubeen is scheduled to interact with the Defence Minister, the National Security Adviser, and members of the Indian Armed Forces hierarchy. In addition, he will visit Jaipur, Ajmer, Kolkata and important training establishments and field formations.
“The visit would further cement our defence relationship with Bangladesh and add impetus to our ongoing defence cooperation. Maintenance of enhanced military-to-military contacts with Bangladesh by the Indian Army is mutually beneficial to the strategic interests of both. The visit of Bangladesh COAS has a major significance in the burgeoning defence cooperation between both the friendly foreign countries,'' the Defence Ministry said in its release.