Army chief returns home from India visit

Chief of Army Staff of Bangladesh General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed returned to Dhaka yesterday from his official visit to India.

During his visit, the army chief met Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Kumar Doval; Lt Gen Vinod G Khandare, military adviser to the Secretariat of the State Security Council in the Indian Prime Minister's Office; Defence Secretary Ajoy Kumar; Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat; Chief of the Army Staff of the Indian Army Manoj Mukund Naravane, and Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria.

The army chief inspected the 50th Indian Parachute Brigade 50 (Independent) in Agra, the Wargaming Development Centre, Defence Image Processing and Analysis Centre and the Indian National Defence College.

The Indian Parachute Brigade 50 (Independent) was the first to enter Dhaka through Tongi as a member of the Allied Forces during the Liberation War of 1971.

During his meeting with Lt Gen Vinod G Khandare, Shafiuddin discussed security issues.

On the last day of his visit, he paid homage to the National War Memorial where he looked at the inscribed names of those who sacrificed their lives for the Allied forces in the 1971 Liberation War and paid tribute.

He was given a guard of honour when he reached the South Block.

Later, he met Chief of Indian Army Staff Manoj Mukund Naravane and Defence Secretary Ajoy Kumar.

The army chief's called on Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria and Chief of Defense Staff General Bipin Rawat at their office. He later exchanged views with Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Kumar Doval at his office.

The visit of the Chief of Army Staff is expected to further strengthen the relationship between the armies of India and Bangladesh and the prospects for further cooperation.