SEVENTH INDIAN AND BANGLADESHI NAVIES’ STAFF TALKS

Towards further bolstering existing defence relations between India and Bangladesh in the maritime domain, 7th Staff Talks between Indian Navy and Bangladesh Navy were conducted from earlier this week at New Delhi. Bangladesh Navy delegation was led by Rear Admiral Mohammad Mozammel Haque, Commander Chattogram Naval Area. Rear Admiral J Singh, Assistant Chief of Naval Staff led the delegation from Indian Navy. These Staff Talks were the first bilateral dialogue conducted post relaxation of COVID 19 travel restrictions. During the Staff Talks, issues relating to joint cooperative efforts like Coordinated Patrol along International Maritime Boundary Line, bilateral exercise BONGOSAGAR, conduct of Naval Training and Hydrography were discussed. Bangladesh Navy delegation also held a fruitful interaction with Vice Admiral MS Pawar, Deputy Chief of Naval Staff of Indian Navy.

India and Bangladesh are jointly celebrating the Golden Jubilee Celebrations of victory in Bangladesh Liberation War and 1971 War this year. A host of joint activities have been conducted which include reciprocal ship visits by both Navies, participation in Republic Day Parade 2021 at New Delhi by Bangladesh Armed Forces Contingent and participation of BN delegation in Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) Working Group on Information Sharing and Interoperability at New Delhi in February 2021. In March 2021, two Tri-service delegations from Indian Armed Forces are participating in carriage of ‘Victory Day Flame’ through the battlefields of the 1971 war and ‘Independence Day Celebrations’ in Bangladesh.