NEW DELHI: India and Bangladesh consider each other “strategically important” neighbours and any kind of “animosity” between the two countries is not in the interest of either, Army chief General Upendra Dwivedi said on Monday.
Asked about the current status of India-Bangladesh relations, Gen Dwivedi said, “We should talk about the (overall) relationship when there is an elected govt (in Bangladesh).” The relationship between the two militaries, however, is “well and perfect”, he added.
The Army chief said he has been in regular contact with his Bangladeshi counterpart Gen Waker-Uz-Zaman, including during the regime change in early Aug last year. “I will take you back to the comment given by the Bangladesh chief recently that India is strategically important to his country. The same is true for us – Bangladesh is strategically important to us,” Gen Dwivedi said. “We are neighbours. We have to live together and understand each other and any kind of animosity is not in each other’s interest. As of today, there is no vulnerability from any side.”
India over the years had stepped-up military ties with Bangladesh in a bid to stem China’s major strategic inroads into the country. Around 50-60 Bangladesh Army officers, for instance, attend specialised courses in Indian military establishments every year.
“As far as military cooperation with Bangladesh is concerned, it is going on in the same way. Three of our officers have recently gone to Dhaka to attend the NDC (National Defence College) course,” Gen Dwivedi said. The joint military exercise, however, has been temporarily put on hold due to the situation in Bangladesh. “As and when the situation improves, that exercise will also go on,” he further said.
