‘India, Bangladesh settled border disputes peacefully’
Bangladesh has settled all its border disputes with India peacefully and improved ties with its closest neighbour, Dipu Moni, the…
India has proposed a number of new initiatives to enhance the capacity and capabilities of the Bangladesh Armed Forces.
Indian Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar concluded his two-day visit to Bangladesh on Thursday and had wide-ranging discussions with the political and military leadership of Bangladesh to further strengthen the ties between the armed forces of the two countries.
“The defence minister proposed a number of new initiatives to enhance the capacity and capability endeavours of the Bangladesh Armed Forces,” said a press release of the High Commission of India after Manohar Parrikar called on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday afternoon.
Enhancing training engagements, joint exercises, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) activities, and Blue Economy initiatives were discussed.
The minister offered training for Bangladesh Coast Guard personnel to enhance their capabilities.
He assured continued support to the Armed Forces of Bangladesh in all endeavours. “Through a joint endeavour, the tomorrow of our nations will be better than today.”
During his call on Hasina at the Gono Bhaban, the minister conveyed greetings of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said Modi was looking forward to Hasina's visit to India.
He presented Hasina the airframe of an Allouette Helicopter. The helicopter was one of the three aircraft that formed part of “Kilo flight”, which was raised at Dimapur in 1971 with support of the Indian Air Force.
It was the first fighting formation of the nascent Bangladesh Air Force during the Liberation War.
The minister highlighted the role of the valiant Bangladeshi pilots who carried out multiple missions against all odds from these aircraft and accounted for destruction of a large number of enemy assets during the war.
The airframe, meant for display at the Liberation War Museum in Agargaon, was flown to Dhaka two days earlier.
Reiterating her government's “zero tolerance policy” against terrorism and militancy, Hasina said no one would be allowed to use Bangladesh's soil for carrying out terrorist activities against any country, UNB reports.
Briefing reporters after the meeting, PM's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim said the premier recalled with gratitude the contributions of the Indian armed forces to Bangladesh's Liberation War.
Hasina said during her upcoming visit to India she would honour those valiant Indian armed forces personnel who embraced martyrdom in the 1971 war.
The Indian minister said it was his country's moral responsibility to extend help to Bangladesh during the war as a friendly country.
Earlier in the day during a banquet speech with the defence officials in Dhaka, Parrikar said, “Both our nations face similar challenges of terrorism. It is a malady which affects my country as much as yours. It is highly contagious and respects no political or geographical boundaries. Countries sponsoring or encouraging terrorism have always suffered in the long run. Their own moral fibre and social fabric has been destroyed and the terrorism that they assiduously cultivated to harm others has always come home to roost.”
“We are proud that we have had the privilege of fighting shoulder to shoulder with you and having spilled blood together to help you attain victory and independence. We are Blood Brothers and our bonds hence go well beyond the ordinary.”
The Indian minister lauded Bangladesh for its policy of zero tolerance towards terrorism and for implementing it in letter and spirit.
The response of the armed forces and the intelligence and other security agencies during the Holey Artisan incident and its immediate aftermath is highly praiseworthy, the Indian High Commission press release said.
During his two-day visit, the Indian defence minister called on the president and the security adviser to the prime minister.
The chiefs of the Bangladesh Army, Navy and Air Force, Director General Coast Guard, and the Principal Staff Officer to the Armed Forces Division had also called on the minister.
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