Indian army chief due March 31

Chief of Army Staff of India General Bipin Rawat will arrive in Dhaka on March 31 on a three-day visit at the invitation of Bangladesh counterpart General Abu Belal Muhammad Shafiul Huq.

"This visit is part of the ongoing high-level exchanges between the Armed Forces of both countries," an Indian High Commission press release said here today.

The Bangladesh army chief last visited India in September 2015, while the air force and navy chiefs toured India in 2016. The Indian air force and navy chiefs also visited Bangladesh in 2016.

"Considering the importance of the bilateral relationship the Indian army chief has chosen to visit Bangladesh in his first international tour after being appointed the army chief on January 1," the release said.

He will also be visiting Nepal where he will be conferred with the honorary title of "General of Nepal Army" by the President of Nepal as per the long standing tradition.

The army chief will be accompanied by his spouse, Madhulika Rawat, and a four-member delegation. The delegation will interact with President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as well as senior military leadership.

General Bipin Rawat will also address the student officers at the National Defence College in Mirpur.

The Indian army chief shares a historic association with the Bangladesh`s War of Liberation.

"His battalion, 5/11 GR, had fought with distinction in the northern Bangladesh and participated in battles at Pirganj, Ghoraghat, Gobindganj Saulakandi, Mahasthan Bridge and Bogra," the release said, adding during the tour, he will also visit some of these battle sites.

Source: BSS