Cooperation deepening
Indian defence minister says on armed forces of Bangladesh, India
The cooperation between the Armed Forces of Bangladesh and India is deepening, said Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh yesterday.
"I am glad that the cooperation between the Armed Forces of both the countries is steadily progressing, by way of several activities -- defence dialogue, staff talks, joint training, exercise and high-level exchanges," he said.
He made the remarks at a reception hosted by the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi to mark the 50th anniversary of the Armed Forces Day by paying homage to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the martyrs of the Liberation War of 1971.
The day is observed on November 21, which signifies the day in 1971 when the members of the Bangladesh army, navy and air force were officially united and launched joint operations along with the people against the Pakistan occupation forces.
Singh said it is remarkable that all three service chiefs of Bangladesh have visited India this year, and from India, the chiefs of army and air force visited Bangladesh this year.
He mentioned that India has extended a line of credit worth $500 million to Bangladesh for defence equipment.
Muhammad Imran, Bangladesh high commissioner to India; Manoj Mukund Naravane, Indian chief of army staff; Vivek Ram Chaudhury, chief of air staff; Karambir Singh, chief of Naval Staff; and Md Abul Kalam Azad, Bangladesh's defence adviser, were also present.
This is the first time since independence that the union cabinet minister for defence and all the chief of military services of India joined to celebrate armed forces day of Bangladesh, said the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi in a statement.
Singh congratulated the armed forces of Bangladesh and saluted the valiant struggle of the Muktibahini in the War of Liberation, and said the spirit of freedom fighters forms the core of today's armed forces of Bangladesh.
He also paid tribute to the sacrifices made by the brave soldiers of the Indian armed Forces.
Recalling that India gave shelter to millions of refugees from Bangladesh, he said a struggling nation gave shoulder to another.
Today, Bangladesh's armed forces are one of the highest contributors to the UN Peacekeeping Forces and are respected globally for their professionalism and commitment to just causes, Singh added.