Indian Navy Chief Admiral Karambir Singh is on a four-day official visit to Bangladesh starting today. The aim of this visit is to strengthen the bilateral maritime relations between the two countries. During his visit, Singh will hold bilateral discussions with Adm Aurangzeb Chowdhury, Chief of the Naval Staff, Bangladesh Navy, Service Chiefs, and other senior Government officials. The Twitter account of spokesperson for Indian Navy tweeted about the Navy chief's visit.

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Indian Navy Chief hosted for a tour

The Indian Navy Chief will be hosted for a tour of the Khulna Shipyard Limited, Bangladesh Navy bases in Chattogram and Khulna and will also address cadets at the Bangladesh Naval Academy (BNA). In addition, he will participate in the first-anniversary celebration of Bangladesh Institute of Maritime Research and Development (BIMRAD). 

The Bangladesh Navy is an active member of Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) and is a member of all three working groups, viz Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR), Maritime Security and ‘Information Sharing and Interoperability’. 

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Indian Navy and Bangladesh Navy relations

The Indian Navy regularly interacts with Bangladesh Navy through the medium of Staff Talks, Annual Defense Dialogue and other operational interactions which includes Port visits, Passage Exercises, Training, Ship Design and Ship Building cooperation besides regular participation by Indian Navy serving and retired officers in Victory Day Celebrations held in Bangladesh to commemorate ‘Liberation War' of 1971. 

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Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina's upcoming visit to India

Earlier in August this year, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had confirmed Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s upcoming visit to India in October adding that the two countries believe that improved partnership against crimes, terrorism or terrorist groups and extremism is directly beneficial to people of both the countries. Indian Navy Chief’s visit to Bangladesh ahead of the Bangladesh Prime Minister’s visit to India is an indication of the enhancing the bilateral relations concerning the defense and security of the two nations. Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr. AK Abdul Momen had also said that the Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina’s scheduled visit to India starts from October 3 when she will attend the Indian Economic Forum on October 3 and 4, followed by a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 5.

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