New Delhi: The first ever two-day defence cooperation dialogue between India and Bangladesh concluded here on Tuesday. The Indian side was headed by Defence Secretary Sanjay Mitra, who held the discussion with his counterpart Lt General Mahafuz Rahaman, the Principal staff officer of the Bangladesh Army, second-in-command in the hierarchy of the Bangladesh defence establishment.
The delegation is likely to meet National Security Advisor Ajit Doval before leaving for Dhaka on Thursday, sources said.
It may be mentioned that during the visit of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to India in April last year, India and Bangladesh had signed a MoU on defence cooperation. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also announced a line of credit of $500 million for the acquisition of defence equipment from India. During the discussion between the two countries, a modality had been finalised for the purchase of defence equipment from India in near future keeping in view of security concern of the neighbouring country.
It was also decided that Naval forces of the two countries would have joint naval exercises in the Bay of Bengal and the two Coast Guards will patrol jointly in the coastal areas of two countries.
The two Prime Ministers also agreed to strengthen and consolidate bilateral naval relations between two countries through greater military-to-military training, and exchanges. Both the leaders had decided to have more exchange programmes between two armed forces and the defence establishments. A delegation of Indian army will soon visit Bangladesh for further discussion on cooperation between two countries, the source further said.