Published : 29 Mar 2025, 11:22 AM
India's High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma has held talks with Indian Army chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi on strategies to enhance bilateral defence and military cooperation.
The meeting also focused on exploring joint initiatives to strengthen regional security, the Indian Army's Additional Directorate General of Public Information said in a post on X on Friday.
"Shri Pranay Verma, high commissioner of India to Bangladesh, called on Gen Upendra Dwivedi, chief of army and discussed a range of geostrategic issues," the post read.
"They exchanged views on issues of mutual interest, focusing on strengthening bilateral defence cooperation, enhancing military collaboration and exploring avenues for joint initiatives for strengthening regional security".
Relations between India and Bangladesh have been strained since August of last year, when a student-led uprising in Bangladesh brought an end to the Awami League's 15-year rule.
Tensions escalated further as India attempted to erect barbed-wire fencing along several border areas.
Against this backdrop, Bangladesh was mentioned in Gen Upendra Dwivedi’s remarks during the Indian Army’s annual press conference in January.
On Jan 13, Gen Dwivedi said that hostility between neighbouring countries benefits no one.
Clarifying that there were no issues in military-to-military relations between India and Bangladesh, he added that discussions on state-level relations could only take place once there was an “elected government” in place.
The meeting came amid reports of ongoing discussions between Bangladesh and the United States over the sale of military equipment.
On Mar 24, Lt Gen Joel P Vowell, deputy commanding general of the US Army Pacific, visited Bangladesh.
During the visit, the two sides discussed the potential procurement of American military hardware to strengthen the Bangladesh Army’s capabilities, the US Embassy in Dhaka said in a statement.
Strengthening #India
Shri Pranay Verma, High Commissioner of #India to #Bangladesh, called on #GeneralUpendraDwivedi, #COAS and discussed a range of geostrategic issues. They exchanged views on issues of mutual interest, focusing on strengthening bilateral defence cooperation… pic.twitter.com/M6swQ3DaUo
— ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) March 28, 2025