Indian defence minister visits Dhaka

According to reports from top Defence Ministry officials, the focus of the trip is to deepen security ties and finalise the Defence Cooperation Agreement that is likely to be signed when Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina visits India around December 17. The Indian Media also reported that Parikkar’s visit is the first time an Indian defence minister has come to Bangladesh in 45 years. The minister and the 11 member delegation landed in Dhaka on a special Indian flight at Bangladesh air force base at Kurmitola according to statement of Inter Service Public Relation (ISPR) Directorate. Armed Forces Lt Principal Staff Officer Gen Md Mahfuzur Rahman and officials from the different ministies greeted the defense minister and his delegation at the air force base. Indian High Commissioner to Dhaka Harsh Vardhan Shringla was also present. The Indian delegation, which includes the Indian Army, Air Force and Navy deputy chiefs will hold courtesy meetings with the president and prime minister of Bangladesh. They will also meet with the Bangladesh Army, Air Force and Navy chiefs to discuss broadening international relations and cooperation. The defense minister and his delegation will also hold a meeting with the Security Advisor to the Prime Minister Major General (rt) Tarique Ahmed Siddique. The visit will cover the areas of naval cooperation which have been proposed including the option of coordinated patrolling along International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL), bilateral martime exercise, joint surveillance of the Exclusive Economic Zone and cooperation in hydrography.