Bangladesh army chief arrives in India to boost military ties

ANI

New Delhi, Apr. 1 (ANI): Bangladesh Army Chief, General Iqbal Karim Bhuiyan, arrived here on Monday with an aim to enhance military ties between the two neighbouring countries. General Bhuiyan, who is on a four-day visit to India, was accorded a warm welcome by the Indian army officers on his arrival here. General Bhuiyan is slated to hold talks with Defence Minister A.K. Antony, National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon, IAF chief Air Chief Marshal NAK Browne, Army chief General Bikram Singh and Navy chief Admiral D.K. Joshi. Last month, security forces of India and Bangladesh attended the Director General-level talks in New Delhi and discussed border issues, including fencing, illegal movement of criminals and smuggling. India and Bangladesh had earlier in January signed two landmark agreements to extradite criminals and terrorists and liberalise the visa regime. Furthermore, traditional economic and cultural links between India and Bangladesh have been greatly enhanced with Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, visiting India in January 2010 followed by a return visit by Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh in September 2011. Bangladesh and India are part of the Indian Subcontinent and have had a long common cultural, economic and political history. The cultures of the two countries are similar; in particular Bangladesh and India's states West Bengal and Tripura are all Bengali-speaking. However, since the partition of India in 1947, Bangladesh (formerly East Bengal and East Pakistan) became a part of Pakistan. Following the Liberation War of 1971, Bangladesh gained its independence and established relations with India. (ANI)