India, Bangladesh push defence ties with training and security talks

Indian High Commissioner Dinesh Trivedi met Bangladesh's defence adviser to review military cooperation, training and security issues. The talks signalled a shared effort to steady bilateral ties and bolster regional stability after recent strains.

In Short

• Joint training programmes were discussed for professional development of both armed forces
• Officials explored experience-sharing, disaster management and maritime security cooperation measures
• Outreach followed recent tensions after Sheikh Hasina received political asylum in India

India attaches "immense importance" to its defence and strategic ties with Bangladesh, Indian High Commissioner Dinesh Trivedi said on Wednesday during a meeting with Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's defence adviser, Brigadier (retd) Shamsul Islam. The talks focused on defence cooperation, training, shared security interests and regional stability.

The meeting took place a day after Trivedi called on Bangladesh President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, with both sides discussing ways to strengthen the "deep-rooted" and multifaceted relationship between the two neighbours. The outreach comes as India and Bangladesh seek to maintain and strengthen bilateral engagement after a period of strained ties.

According to the Bangladesh Defence Ministry's Inter Services Public Relations directorate, Trivedi said during the meeting that "India attaches immense importance to its deep military and strategic relationship with Bangladesh". It said he also reaffirmed India's continued commitment to work with Bangladesh's armed forces on professional cooperation, capacity building and areas of shared security interest.

The ISPR described Trivedi's meeting with Shamsul Islam at his cantonment office as "fruitful". It said the two sides discussed joint training programmes for the professional development of the armed forces, exchanges of experience and training between military officials, disaster management, and regional peace and maritime security. During the talks, the high commissioner also praised the Bangladesh government's socio-economic initiatives.

"Both sides expressed their determination to work together as neighbouring countries on bilateral defence cooperation, safeguarding regional stability and addressing common global challenges," the ISPR said. In recent weeks, Trivedi has held a series of meetings with senior political leaders in Bangladesh, including Prime Minister Rahman, underlining the need to create a conducive environment to deepen bilateral ties after tensions over New Delhi granting political asylum to former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India after being ousted in a youth-led agitation in August 2024.

The latest meetings signalled a push by both countries to keep up bilateral engagement, with discussions centred on defence cooperation, security coordination and broader efforts to strengthen ties.

With PTI Inputs

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