India to continue work closely with B’desh for each other’s defence, security

India is keen to continue working closely with Bangladesh in helping and supporting each other’s defence and security concerns. Speaking on the occasion of Bangladesh Armed Forces Day at the Bangladesh High Commission in Delhi on Monday, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh expressed satisfaction over the close defence cooperation between India and Bangladesh. He  said that the defence cooperation between the two countries has grown steadily over the last few years by way of several activities  like defence dialogue, staff talks, joint training exercise and high-level exchanges. He said India has extended a Line of Credit (LOC) worth USD 500 million to Bangladesh for defence equipment. Defence Minister expressed hope that this gesture will spur joint activities not only in acquisition of assets but also in co-development and co-production of defence material..
The Defence Minister said that India is deeply sensitive to the security and development concerns of its neighbours and hopes for the reciprocal level of sensitivity on the part of neighbours towards the concerns of India. In this context it is critical for the Armed Forces to remain engaged with each other for mutual capability enhancement, to respond to contingencies and to realise the shared goals of providing security and prosperity to our people, said the Minister.
In his address, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated the armed forces of Bangladesh on behalf of armed forces and the government of India. He appreciated the fact that today the armed forces of Bangladesh are one of the highest contributors to the UN Peacekeeping Forces and are respected globally for their professionalism and commitment to just causes.
He paid rich tributes to brave soldiers of the Indian armed forces who stood steadfast with Bangladesh during the War of Liberation of Bangladesh, saying that it marked a golden chapter in world history in the 20th century.
Calling  India and Bangladesh as strong partners in bringing progress and prosperity for the peoples of South Asia through robust and expanding regional cooperation, the Defence Minister said that both the countries are facing challenges which are similar. ‘Today, we are fighting shoulder to shoulder against common challenges such as poverty and hunger, surge of terrorism and extremist ideologies and climate change’, said the Defence Minister.
Remembering the extraordinary leadership in India during the liberation war of Bangladesh in 1971, he said India’s response to the events of 1971 was a reflection of a civilization, more than a mere matter of state policy. He said that India is proud that this friendship, founded in the shared sacrifice, has prospered by leaps and bounds.