Categories: India

Bangladesh tri-service squad arrives for Republic Day parade

In what is a rare event, a 122-member tri-service contingent of the Bangladesh defense force has arrived in India to participate in the 26th January Republic Day parade. As the contingent took off from Dhaka on a special C-17 Indian Air Force carrier, the Indian High Commission tweeted, “Together we fought, together we march.” It also said that all eyes are now on the 26 January celebration for a splendid display. The move marks the 50th anniversary of Bangladesh’s independence this year and the birth centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

The Bangladesh contingent will be ferried back to Dhaka by IAF on January 30.

Sources said that the Sheikh Hasina government could reciprocate the gesture once the Covid 19 menace is over.

“This is only the third time in 70-odd years of our Republic that we have a foreign military contingent participate in our parade,” the Indian High Commission in Bangladesh said in a statement.

Col Md Mohtashim Hyder Chowdhury will lead the contingent which includes the parade and a military band, Dhaka Tribune reported.

“This is a very special moment for us, in Bangladesh as it further cements bilateral ties between the two neighbours, which already have a strong bond. This shows that we have fought the 1971 war together and it is indeed a very touching gesture,” Ishfaq Ilahi Choudhury, who served as air commodore in Bangladesh’s Air Force told IndiaNarrative.com. He underlined the need to resolve the other outstanding issues as well which include the killings in the border.

Choudhury added that while the two countries have shared close economic and political ties, this move gives a new dimension to relations between the two countries. “This signifies military co-operation and that is an important message to the world,” Choudhury said.

Besides, in another first of its kind, a delegation level virtual dialogue between the police chiefs of both countries was also on Tuesday. Vikram Doraiswami, Indian high commissioner to Bangladesh said in a tweet that this would enhance “existing co-operation.” “This new mechanism seeks to address emerging security and counter-terrorism challenges,” he further said.

India has also urged Bangladeshi startups, academia and students to participate in the International Summit 'Prarambh' – a platform to encourage startups — to be held virtually later this week.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bangladesh counterpart Hasina held a bilateral summit on December 17, signing a host of MoUs and inaugurating the Haldibari-Chilahati railway links connecting the two countries. Modi is slated to join the 26 March celebrations in Dhaka to mark 50 years of independence.

 

 

 .

Mahua Venkatesh

Mahua Venkatesh specialises in covering economic trends related to India and the world along with developments in South Asia.

Recent Posts

Sudanese Ambassador thanks India for humanitarian aid, describes conflict as external aggression

Sudanese Ambassador to India, Mohammed Abdalla Ali Eltom, expressed profound gratitude for the humanitarian aid…

1 hour ago

Indian and American trade delegations to begin discussions on a Bilateral Trade Agreement this week

Indian and American trade delegations are set to begin discussions on a Bilateral Trade Agreement…

2 hours ago

Taiwan President vows crackdown on Chinese infiltration, cites rising espionage and influence operations

Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te stated on Thursday that China has intensified its campaigns to influence…

4 hours ago

Japan’s population declines for 14th year in row

The population of Japanese nationals stood at 120.3 million as of October 2024, down a…

4 hours ago

Uzbekistan attracts Indian investment as telecom and energy reforms advance

Indian industries are eyeing Uzbekistan as a strategic hub, with Reliance Industries in talks on…

5 hours ago

HRF report exposes China’s expanding surveillance and repression in Uyghur region

The Uyghur region in northwest China remains under strict oversight by the Chinese Communist Party…

5 hours ago