Army Chief Visit Enhances Defence Cooperation with Bangladesh

Strengthening defence ties and fostering regional cooperation, Indian Army Chief General Manoj Pande's visit to Bangladesh highlights the growing partnership between the two nations

- LT GENERAL P.C. KATOCH (RETD)

INDIAN ARMY CHIEF GENERAL Manoj Pande made a two-day visit to Bangladesh in the first week June 2023. This was his second visit to Bangladesh as Army Chief. His first visit was in July 2022 - his very first foreign visit after becoming Chief, which signifies the importance of India-Bangladesh bilateral relations and defence cooperation. Bangladesh is an important partner in India's 'Neighbourhood First' policy. Both countries are cooperating extensively in trade and commerce, power and energy, transport and connectivity, science and technology, defence and security, maritime affairs, climate change and sustainable development, training programmes, joint exercises, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR).

Defence cooperation between India and Bangladesh has made significant progress in the last few years. The 50th anniversary of Bangladesh's Liberation was in 2021. Two defence agreements were signed between Bangladesh and India during Sheikh Hasina's four-day trip to New Delhi in April 2017. These were the first such pacts inked by India with any of its neighbours. Under these agreements, the militaries of the two countries will conduct joint exercises and training. India will help Bangladesh set up manufacturing and service centres for defence platforms that both countries possess with the aim of achieving self-sufficiency in defence manufacturing in Bangladesh, and will also provide the Bangladesh military with expert training, and technical and logistic support. India also extended its first ever defence-related line of credit to a neighbouring country, by providing Bangladesh with $500 million to purchase defence equipment from India.