Indian Army chief meets B'desh President

Indian Army chief Gen Bipin Rawat today called on Bangladesh President Abdul Hamid, who underlined the need for exchange of technology and training between the two armies for enhancing their professional skills.
Welcoming Gen Rawat at the Bangabhaban here, the president said that the exchange of visit and holding joint exercises and training at army levels will play an important role in boosting relations between the two armed forces.
"The president said enhanced exchange of technology and training between the two armies would enhance professional standard of the forces," Bangabhaban spokesman Joynal Abedin told PTI after the top level meeting.

The president also expressed gratitude for the cooperation as well as assistance of the Indian army and its people during Bangladesh's Liberation War in 1971.
"Bangladesh and its people will remember the contribution of Indian army and civilians to our Liberation War," Abedin quoted the president as saying.
The president also pointed out the excellent friendly relations between the two neighbours.

On his part, Gen Rawat described ties between the two armed forces to be excellent as high-level meeting of two armies were yielding "very positive output".
Gen Rawat's visit comes days ahead of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's official trip to India next week.

Earlier, Gen Rawat met his Bangladesh counterpart Gen Abu Belal Muhammad Shafiul Huq at the Army Headquarters here and "discussed on matters of bilateral training of two friendly Armies and professional issues", an army statement said here.
Accompanied by his wife Madhulika Rawat, Gen Rawat arrived here today on a three-day visit to Bangladesh along with a four-member delegation.
Bangladesh army's logistics commander Maj Gen Ataul Hakim Sarwar Hasan received him at Bangladesh Air Force's (BAF) base Bangabandhu at Kurmitola.
Gen Rawat also paid homage to the members of Bangladesh Armed Forces who were martyred during the 1971 war by placing floral wreath at Shikha Anirban in Dhaka Cantonment, where he was offered a ceremonial guard of honour.

He thereafter visited northwestern Gobindaganj war field of 1971 and Bogra Cantonment as his battalion, 5/11 GR, had fought with distinction in the region during Bangladesh's war.
"This visit is part of the ongoing high level exchanges between the Armed Forces of both countries," an Indian High Commission statement earlier said.
The Bangladesh army chief had last visited India in September 2015 and the air and navy chiefs visited India in 2016. Indian air and navy chiefs made return visits to Bangladesh in the same year.
"Considering the importance of the bilateral relationship the Indian army chief has chosen to visit Bangladesh in his first international tour after being appointed the Army Chief on January 1, 2017," the statement read.

It said Gen Rawat shares a historic association with Bangladesh's 1971 war because of his battalion's stake in battles in the northwestern region.