As Bangladesh went through a major political transition on August 5, the army chiefs of Bangladesh and India were in regular touch. This was stated by Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi in a press conference in Delhi on January 13.
The political shift in Bangladesh came after a student-led uprising forced Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to resign and subsequently flee to India.
In response to a question on the situation in Bangladesh, General Dwivedi said, “As of now, there is no possibility of any attack from either side. “I am in regular touch with the army chief of Bangladesh.” He said that despite the political upheaval, the militaries of both countries kept interacting and talking. The two army also held a video conference on November 20 amid their continued military cooperation.
On August 5, Sheikh Hasina boarded a military aircraft out of Bangladesh and landed at Hindon Airbase, in the outskirts of Delhi from where she has been operating for over five months. General Dwivedi’s remarks suggest the exit of the former prime minister was synchronized between the military forces of both countries.
He also referred a message from Bangladesh’s army chief, “As he mentioned, India is important for Bangladesh, and the same for us. We are neighbors, and we need to understand each other. Conflict, he said, would hurt both countries.”
The BJP seeks closer military ties with Dhaka despite political changes in Bangladesh. Full normalization of relations, though, would only be possible after a new, elected government comes into office in Bangladesh, General Dwivedi said. He concluded, “Until an elected government is in place in Bangladesh, full normalization may not happen, but the military cooperation between our countries continues smoothly and strongly.”
Source: Kaler Kantho
