Indian Army Chief in Bangladesh to deepen bilateral military ties

DHAKA: General VK Singh, the Indian Army Chief who took part in the 1971 Indo-Pak war that led to the liberation of Bangladesh, on Sunday arrived in Dhaka on a five-day official visit to deepen military ties between the two neighbours.

General Singh, who is here at the invitation of his Bangladeshi counterpart General Mohammed Abdul Mubeen, will be the chief guest at the passing-out parade at Bangladesh Military Academy on June 22 in southeastern port city of Chittagong, the Ministry of Defence said in a statement. The presence of the top Indian General at the ceremony was expected to inspire young Bangladeshi officers with the spirit of 1971 Liberation War.

Commissioned in the Rajput Regiment, Singh took part in the Bangladesh's Liberation War and was part of the operations in several areas, including Feni and Cox's Bazar.

General Singh made special efforts to boost military-to-military ties with Bangladesh as India's eastern army commander based in Kolkata prior to taking over as the Army chief.

The top General, who is accompanied by his wife Bharati Singh and senior army officials, is expected to call on President Zillur Rahman, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. He will also meet the chiefs of three services and visit different military installations in the country.

According to earlier reports, General Singh has brought with him two 3.7 inch howitzers and a modern lab of 50 computers for training of troops.

The Indian Army chief will also gift a rock-climbing wall to the Bangladesh Army to help train its mountaineers.