The Bangladesh Navy Chief's visit to India is significant as it coincides with the golden jubilee celebration of the Bangladesh Liberation War

Chief of Naval Staff, Bangladesh Navy, Admiral M Shaheen Iqbal, who is on a 8-day visit to India on Wednesday visited the Western Naval Command in Mumbai and interacted with Vice Admiral R Hari Kumar, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command.

The two Admirals discussed various issues pertaining to enhancing and strengthening jointmanship, interoperability, training, anti-terrorism collaboration and overall bilateral co-operation as part of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two nations, said a statement of the Ministry of Defence.

Admiral Hari Kumar, during interaction with the visiting Bangladeshi Naval Chief , said India is proud to have contributed to the liberation of Bangladesh in 1971 and that as a nation, India has immense respect for the role played and sacrifices made by the proud people of Bangladesh in the war, it stated.

The Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command also said that Indians are participating enthusiastically in many commemorative events of the golden jubilee of Bangladesh liberation, the statement said.

He also assured the visiting CNS that all assistance required for the successful conduct of the International Fleet Review by Bangladesh in 2022 will be extended, it added.

The current visit of the Bangladesh Navy Chief to India from October 22 to 29 is significant as it coincides with the golden jubilee celebration of the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971, it noted.

According to the statement, the CNS, being an alumni of the ASW School in Kochi, was also highly appreciative of the training cooperation between the two navies and pointed out how personnel of the two navies often cross-train with each other in courses such as Special Ops, Diving, Aviation Tech, etc.

Vice Admiral M Shaheen Iqbal and his spouse were also provided a walk around of naval facilities and briefed on a host of Navy Wives Welfare Association initiatives.

India and Bangladesh are bound by a common history, culture and language.

The co-operation between the nations in the War of 1971 is still rejoiced with great pride and fondness by peoples of both nations.