Bangladesh Army Chief likely to visit India

Source : The Hindu

Haroon Habib

DHAKA: The Chief of Bangladesh Army Staff, General Moeen U. Ahmed, is likely to visit India later this month, two leading Dhaka dailies reported on Thursday.
They said the visit was for holding meetings with top officials of the Indian government and the military.
The Daily Star, quoting sources reported that General Moeen was likely to leave Dhaka on February 24 and return on March 2. However, the dates and time of his meetings were yet to be finalised.
The daily claimed to have contacted the Indian High Commission in Dhaka and said “an important official” of the embassy confirmed General Moeen’s visit. It also published a programme of the Army Chief’s visit, saying General Moeen was expected to pay a courtesy call to President Pratibha Devisingh Patil, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Defence Minister A.K. Antony.
He will also hold meetings with the Indian Chief of Army Staff, General Deepak Kapoor; the Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Sureesh Mehta; and the Chief of Indian Air Force, Air Chief Marshal Fali Homi Major, said the daily. The general is also expected to visit Ajmer Sharif and the Taj Mahal in Agra.
The English daily reported that the visit was considered significant as the Army-backed caretaker government was now carrying out various important tasks, including anti-corruption drives, reforms and proceeding towards the general elections by December this year.
Leading Bengali daily Prothom Alo said the proposed visit of the Army chief to India was seen as a significant step.