Bangladesh Defence

The Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) will be provided with two BELL 407 helicopters in October next year, allowing the elite force to carry out air surveillance and move fast to track criminals.

The Bell 407 is a four-blade, single-engine, civil utility helicopter. It is frequently used for corporate and offshore transport, as an air ambulance, law enforcement, electronic news gathering and movie making.

“The elite force, now having two-dimensional capacity –– land and water -- needs to be three dimensional in operation to properly carry out its job as the anti-crime force,” says a Rab official.

Rab officials hoped that with the commissioning of the two BEL 407 helicopters, the elite force’s capacity in anti-crime drives will be strengthened further.

Talking to UNB, Director (Media and Legal wing) of Rab Headquarters Commander Mohammad Sohail said a proposal for procuring the helicopters was put forward in 2005. “The government then allocated funds in national annual budget every year to procure the helicopters, but the agreement could not be signed for various reasons,” he said.

Finally, Commander Sohail said, the government signed a Tk 57 crore deal with BEL Asiaprivate Limited, a Singapore-based company, in June last year to procure two BEL 407 helicopters. According to the agreement, the delivery of the helicopters will be made by June 2012.

He said the helicopters are being now assembled in Singapore. “We’re expecting those to be delivered at the end of September 2012. Those could be put into operation in October next.”

The helicopters, seven seated each, would be able to fly for three hours at a stretch at 240-250 kph. There will be special arrangements to carry dog squads in the helicopters.

Rab will sign an agreement with the Bangladesh Air Force for the maintenance of the helicopters. Besides, eight RAB officials will be sent abroad for on 6-8 weeks’ training in August next year.

Commander Sohail said with the commissioning of the two helicopters, Rab members could be sent fast to any parts of the country to tackle terrorists or militants apart from providing support.

“It’ll also be effective for air surveillance and airlifting wounded persons to hospitals from remote areas,” he said.

Under the command of the Inspector General of Police (IGP), the elite force consists of members of the police, Army, Navy, Air Force, Border Guard Bangladesh and Ansar. It was formed on 26 March 2004 and started its operations on March 26 in 2005. Since then, the anti-crime force arrested over one lakh criminals, including militants and extremists. It also recovered 10,000 firearms of which 90 percent were made in foreign countries, Sohail said.

He said it also recovered 5,000 grenades, bombs and cocktails, and 500 kgs of explosives.

But the anti-crime and anti-terrorism unit of the police came under fire by human rights groups for extra-judicial killing in the name ‘crossfire’.

Finally, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) is going to get two helicopters as a procurement proposal was placed by the Home Ministry to the Cabinet Purchase Committee for approval.

According to official sources, after completion of the procurement-related tender procedure, Home Ministry placed the proposal to the Cabinet Division recently.

Home Ministry officials expect the Cabinet Purchase Committee will approve the proposal in its meeting on Sunday next.

The sources said though the RAB will use and operate the two helicopters for combating terrorism, they will remain under operation and maintenance (ONM) service of Bangladesh Air Force (BAF).

The BAF will provide the service and also necessary security to the helicopters under a contract with Bangladesh Police.

Police Head Quarter floated international tender in January this year to procure 2 light category single engine helicopters. It received offers from three international suppliers.

After scrutiny by the tender evaluation committee, two proposals were treated to be responsive bids. Of them, the bid of Singapore-based Bell Helicopter Asia (PTE) Ltd and local Rahimafrooz Distribution Ltd came out to be the lowest responsive bidder.

The two helicopters’ total cost was quoted US$ 7.8 million (equivalent to Tk 55.77 crore) as each will cost US$ 3.9 million (about Tk 27.88 crore).

The supplier company will supply the choppers and spare parts within 18 months from the signing of the contract.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) has quietly upgraded the status of Tejgaon airfield to that of a domestic airport, making the air force's objection to the metro rail route along Bijoy Sarani even stronger.

By upgrading its status from a short take-off and landing (STOL) airport, the CAAB, headed by an air commodore, has increased the airport's importance.

The civil aviation authority made the decision sometime between October 16 and 17 this year.

A couple of months ago, the Bangladesh Air Force raised objections to the proposed 19-metre high metro rail along Bijoy Sarani. Arguing that the metro rail would hinder military air operations from the Tejgaon airstrip, it made a plea that the airfield be kept functional.

The BAF also recommended an alternative route along Khamarbari-Farmgate which would affect the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban complex. The prime minister opted for the realignment of the route along the parliament complex in line with the BAF suggestion, a move which drew huge flak from different technical experts.

The experts, among whom are architects, planners and civic activists, termed the BAF stance unfounded on many occasions and strongly argued that the metro rail would not affect the present operations of the airfield. Besides, the airstrip was abandoned in 1988 and its location has been seriously affecting the city's development, they argued.

As these arguments and counter arguments kept heating up along with public sentiment going against the air force's stance, the prime minister in mid-October contacted the leaders of various pressure groups and asked them to hold a dialogue with the BAF to reach a consensus.

Accordingly, a group of professionals and civic activists met the chief of air staff in October to convince him that the metro rail could be built and at the same time the runway would remain functional.

But within two days of the dialogue, the CAAB on its website declared the Tejgaon airstrip a domestic airport by adding it to a list of airports without any formal announcement.

However, its website details on navigational aides, air traffic service and aeronautical communications for air operations in Bangladesh territory make no mention of Tejgaon airfield as an airport.

Requesting anonymity, a director of CAAB said, “A domestic airport requires all the technical features and passenger services as an international airport as per rules of the International Civil Aviation Organisation.”

It was pointed out to the CAAB chief that Tejgaon was a STOL airport and that services required even for a STOL airport were unavailable. The change happened within the following two days, the director said.

In fact, the government shifted all operational activities of the airport to a newly built international airport in 1980, as it could no more serve as an airport.

The private airlines GMG, Parabat and Aero Bengal launched domestic flights from Tejgaon in the late nineties but they too discontinued using the Tejgaon airport. All domestic flights to and from Dhaka are now operated from Shahjalal International Airport.

Domestic operations were moved to Shahjalal as Tejgaon turned obsolete and is located in a densely populated area, said Prof Md Shamsul Hoque, who teaches airport development at Buet.

The BAF and army aviation wing have been using the airfield to fly helicopters (which do not require runways), relief cargo and training planes since the 1980's.

The BAF too moved operations of its fixed-wing fighter planes to Shahjalal International Airport in the mid 1990's, said a retired high-ranking BAF officer.

Air Commodore Mahmud Hussain, chairman of CAAB, could not be contacted for comment despite repeated attempts at his office and over the mobile phone. Group Captain M Saeedul Hasan Khan, member for operations and planning of CAAB, is abroad.

Azad Zahirul Islam, director of Air Traffic Services and Aerodromes, declined to talk on the record

The prime minister has stressed the need for reducing the 'huge' gap between the army officers and the soldiers.

Addressing formation commanders at the Dhaka Cantonment on Sunday, Sheikh Hasina also asked all concerned in the Armed Forces to ensure the chain of command.

"Still, there's a huge gap between the officers and the soldiers in terms of their social status and financial benefits, and it has to be reduced," she said.

There is discrimination in areas like accommodation, medicare, food and children's study and in giving punishment for breaking discipline, said Hasina, also the defence minister. "The discrimination has to be addressed as there is no scope to take the issues lightly."

About discipline in the army, she said, "It's the duty of all members of the armed forces to maintain the chain of command.… It has to be ensured."

The juniors have to abide by the instructions of their senior while the seniors have to take care of their juniors, she added.

The two-time prime minister told the senior officials: "I want to see the army respectful to democracy and to be the vanguards of the Constitution. So honest, qualified and meritorious officers have to be promoted, and the ability should be taken into consideration during recruitments."

She also called upon the armed forces to protect the country being imbued with the spirit of the Liberation War.

About the price hike of essentials, she said it was the impact of the unusual price hike of food grains in the international market.

"… even after that we have been ensuring the supply of rice in low prices through various programmes like OMS and distribution of fair price cards, considering the sufferings of the common people," Hasina said.

The price of rice was Tk 45 per kilogram when the present government came to power and it was brought down to Tk 18-20, she said.

The programme was also attended by the army chief, formation commanders, principal staff officer of the army headquarters and high military officials.

bdnews24.com/sum/al/mi/pks/sah/mr/2015h

বাংলাদেশ সেনাবাহিনীর সদস্যরা রাশিয়ার সেনাবাহিনীর সদস্যদের প্রশিক্ষণ দেবেন। বাংলাদেশ সেনাবাহিনীর পেশাগত যোগ্যতা, দক্ষতা এতটাই আন্তর্জাতিক মানে উন্নীত হয়েছে যে, রাশিয়ার দিক থেকে বাংলাদেশকে এ প্রস্তাব দেয়া হয়েছে। প্রধানমন্ত্রীর রাশিয়া ফেডারেশন সফরকালে এ ব্যাপারে সমঝোতা স্মারক স্বাক্ষর হবে। যুক্তরাষ্ট্র, যুক্তরাজ্য, শ্রীলঙ্কা, ভারত, নেপাল, পাকিস্তান ও আফ্রিকার কয়েকটি দেশের সেনা কর্মকর্তাদের বাংলাদেশের সেনা অফিসাররা মিরপুর ডিফেন্স সার্ভিস ও স্টাফ কলেজে প্রশিক্ষণ দিয়েছেন। সামরিক এ শিক্ষা প্রতিষ্ঠানটি বিদেশে ব্যাপক খ্যাতি অর্জন করেছে । টেররিজম, কাউন্টার টেররিজম, ইনসারজেন্সি, কাউন্টার ইনসারজেন্সি, কমান্ডজনিত বিষয়সহ বিভিন্ন ক্ষেত্রে তাদের প্রশিক্ষণ বিভিন্ন দেশে ব্যাপকভাবে প্রশংসিত হচ্ছে। জাতিসংঘ শান্তিরক্ষী বাহিনীতে বাংলাদেশ সেনাবাহিনীর ১২ হাজারের বেশি অফিসার, জওয়ান কর্মরত রয়েছেন। তাদের সাহসী, সনিষ্ঠ ভূমিকা সংশ্লিষ্ট দেশগুলোসহ বিশ্বব্যাপী প্রশংসিত। বাংলাদেশ থেকে আরও বেশিসংখ্যক সেনা অফিসার, সদস্য শান্তিরক্ষী বাহিনীতে নেয়ার জন্য প্রধানমন্ত্রী শেখ হাসিনা ব্যক্তিগতভাবে জাতিসংঘ মহাসচিবের সঙ্গে কথা বলেছেন। পররাষ্ট্র মন্ত্রণালয় সূত্রে এ খবর জানা গেছে।
প্রধানমন্ত্রী শেখ হাসিনার আগামী মার্চে রাশিয়া সফরের সূচি চূড়ান্ত করা হচ্ছে। সফরকালে রাশিয়া ফেডারেশনের সঙ্গে বাংলাদেশের ১৯টি চুক্তি, সমঝোতা স্মারক ও প্রটোকল স্বাক্ষর হবে। এগুলো হচ্ছে- কৃষি, শিল্প, বেসামরিক বিমান চলাচল, বাণিজ্য, পররাষ্ট্র, জ্বালানি, সংস্কৃতি, স্বাস্থ্য, টেলিকমিউনিকেশন, জাহাজ চলাচল, যুব ও ক্রীড়া, বস্ত্র ও পাট, খাদ্য, মৎস্য ও প্রাণিসম্পদ, মুক্তিযুদ্ধ বিষয়ক, সশস্ত্র বাহিনী বিভাগ, বিজ্ঞান এবং তথ্য-প্রযুক্তি যোগাযোগ, শিক্ষা সংক্রান্ত। দ্বিপক্ষীয় স্বার্থসংশ্লিষ্ট বিষয় ছাড়াও এসব চুক্তি ও প্রটোকলের বেশির ভাগই বাংলাদেশের স্বার্থসংশ্লিষ্ট। একাত্তরে মহান মুক্তিযুদ্ধকালে প্রয়াত সোভিয়েত নেতা ব্রেজনেভ ও কসিগিন মুক্তিযুদ্ধের পক্ষে অত্যন্ত বলিষ্ঠ ভূমিকা রেখেছিলেন। তাদের সমাধিতে প্রধানমন্ত্রী শ্রদ্ধাঞ্জলি নিবেদন করবেন।
সূত্র জানায়, বাংলাদেশ ও রাশিয়ার মধ্যে সরাসরি বিমান চলাচল শুরু হবে। এ ব্যাপারে দু’দেশের মধ্যে এয়ার সার্ভিস এগ্রিমেন্ট হবে। খসড়া চুক্তি অনুযায়ী সপ্তাহে একটি ফ্লাইট ঢাকা-মস্কো রুটে যাতায়াত করবে। চুক্তির খুঁটিনাটি এখন চূড়ান্ত করা হচ্ছে।
বাংলাদেশ মহাকাশে স্যাটেলাইট পাঠানোর পরিকল্পনা করছে। রাশিয়ার সহযোগিতায়ই এ স্যাটেলাইট পাঠানো হবে। রাশিয়া বাংলাদেশের বিজ্ঞানীদের সে দেশে প্রশিক্ষণ দেবে। শিপিং করপোরেশনের জন্য দু’টি জাহাজ কেনার ব্যাপারেও চুক্তি হবে। এ জন্য সহজ শর্তে দীর্ঘমেয়াদি ঋণ দেবে রাশিয়া। বাংলাদেশ ফুটবল ফেডারেশন ও রাশিয়ান ফুটবল ফেডারেশনের মধ্যে সমঝোতা স্মারক স্বাক্ষর হবে।
সূত্র আরও জানায়, রাশিয়ায় বেশ কিছু সংখ্যক বস্ত্র ও সূতাকল রুগ্‌ণ অবস্থায় ফেলে রাখা হয়েছে। রাশিয়া ও বাংলাদেশের উদ্যোক্তারা যৌথভাবে এসব কল কারখানার যন্ত্রপাতি বাংলাদেশে এনে চালু করবে। এতে বাংলাদেশের শ্রমিকদের কাজের সংস্থান হবে। বাংলাদেশ অভ্যন্তরীণ চাহিদা মিটিয়ে বিদেশে রপ্তানিও করতে পারবে। বস্ত্র ও পাট খাতে বাংলাদেশের জনশক্তিকে প্রয়োজনীয় প্রশিক্ষণ দিতেও তারা আগ্রহী। রাশিয়া ঢাকায় অবস্থিত আন্তর্জাতিক পাট গবেষণা সংস্থার সদস্য অথবা অবজারভার হতে আগ্রহ প্রকাশ করেছে। বাংলাদেশ এ ব্যাপারে উদ্যোগী ভূমিকা নেবে।
এছাড়া, বাংলাদেশ রাশিয়া থেকে বছরে দুই লাখ টন গম কিনতে চাইছে। আন্তর্জাতিক বাজার দর অনুযায়ীই এ খাদ্যশস্য কেনা হবে। ইউক্রেন থেকে বাংলাদেশ বছরে এক লাখ টন গম কেনার চুক্তি করেছে। বাংলাদেশে গমের যথেষ্ট উৎপাদন-স্বল্পতা রয়েছে। আন্তর্জাতিক বাজার মূল্য সরবরাহ স্বল্পতার কারণে অস্বাভাবিক হারে বেড়ে যায়। এর প্রভাব পড়ে অভ্যন্তরীণ বাজারে। রাশিয়া থেকে প্রতি বছর দু’লাখ টন গম আমদানির নিশ্চয়তা থাকলে অভ্যন্তরীণ বাজারে সরকারি নিয়ন্ত্রণ প্রতিষ্ঠা সহজতর হবে। বিশ্বের শীর্ষস্থানীয় গম উৎপাদনকারী দেশ রাশিয়া। গত বছর রাশিয়ায় ভয়াবহ প্রাকৃতিক দুর্যোগের বিরূপ প্রভাবে বিশ্ববাজারে গমের দাম বেড়ে যায়। রাশিয়ার সঙ্গে এ ব্যাপারে ৫ বছর মেয়াদি চুক্তি হবে।
বাংলাদেশ চায় রাশিয়ার শিল্পপতিরা বাংলাদেশে বিনিয়োগ করুক। রাশিয়াও বাংলাদেশের শিল্পপতি, বিনিয়োগকারীদের সে দেশে বিনিয়োগে উৎসাহী করতে চায়। এ লক্ষ্যে দু’দেশের মধ্যে চুক্তি স্বাক্ষর হবে। এ সংক্রান্ত খসড়া চুক্তি গত মার্চে রাশিয়ায় পাঠানো হয়েছে। সরকার রাশিয়া থেকে বছরে দু’লাখ টন ইউরিয়া সংগ্রহ করতে চায়। শিপ নির্মাণে রাশিয়ার বিনিয়োগকারীদের বাংলাদেশে বিনিয়োগের ব্যাপারে সমঝোতা স্মারক স্বাক্ষর হবে। দু’দেশের মধ্যে যৌথ বিজনেস কাউন্সিল গঠন করার প্রক্রিয়া চলছে।
সূত্র জানায়, বাংলাদেশ থেকে সামুদ্রিক মাছ নিতে আগ্রহী রাশিয়া। দ্বৈতকর পরিহারের ব্যাপারে দু’দেশের মধ্য সমঝোতা হবে। রাশিয়ার কাছে এ সংক্রান্ত একটি তালিকা পাঠানো হয়েছে।
মহান মুক্তিযুদ্ধে রাশিয়া ছিল বাঙালির অকৃত্রিম বন্ধু। মুক্তিযুদ্ধকালীন অনেক গুরুত্বপূর্ণ দলিল তাদের কাছে রয়েছে। রাশিয়া থেকে সেসব ডকুমেন্ট সংগ্রহ করা হবে। তেল, গ্যাস অনুসন্ধানে সমঝোতা স্মারক ও সংস্কৃতিক সহযোগিতা প্রটোকল স্বাক্ষর হবে। বাংলাদেশ থেকে রাশিয়া কৃষি শ্রমিকও নেবে। প্রযুক্তিগত সহযোগিতা দেবে বাংলাদেশকে। বাংলাদেশ থেকে উন্নত মানের আলু রপ্তানির ব্যাপারে সমঝোতা স্মারক স্বাক্ষর হবে। বাংলাদেশ ও রাশিয়ার মধ্যে মেডিকেল, প্রকৌশল, সাধারণ শিক্ষার ক্ষেত্রে শিক্ষার্থী ও শিক্ষক বিনিময় হবে। এক দেশের বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়ের ডিগ্রি অন্য দেশে স্বীকৃতি দেয়া হবে। এ সংক্রান্ত প্রটোকল স্বাক্ষরিত হবে।
এর মধ্যে নিউক্লিয়ার ও রেডিয়েশন সেফটি কনট্রোল সম্পর্কে রাশিয়ার সঙ্গে চুক্তিবদ্ধ হয়েছে বাংলাদেশ। এ চুক্তির আওতায় রূপপুর পারমাণবিক শক্তি প্রকল্পে কারিগরি ও আর্থিক সহযোগিতা সংক্রান্ত পৃথক চুক্তি স্বাক্ষর হবে।

Builder	Wuhu Shipyard
Displacement	1,472 tons
Length	198 feet (60.2 meters)
Beam	38 feet (11.6 meters)
Draft	14.5 feet (4.4 meters)
Speed	14 kts
Crew	56
Propulsion	2 diesels, 2 shafts, 2,460 bhp
Armament	none fitted

Indian naval ship INS Airavat has arrived at the Chittagong port on a four-day friendly visit.

Indian Navy chief Admiral Nirmal Varma will be visiting Chittagong, said a press release on Sunday signed by Indian assistant high commissioner Somnath Ghosh.

INS Airavat, third ship of 'Shardul' category, works as a relief transport.

It will be kept open for public on Tuesday from 11am to 5pm at the fifth jetty of new mooring container terminal.

President Zillur Rahman stressed the need for exchanging visits and training programs for naval officers and sailors of Bangladesh and India to increase professional skills of the both naval forces.

The President made the remarks when Indian Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Nirmal Verma paid a courtesy call on him at Bangabhaban Wednesday.

Welcoming the visiting Indian Naval Chief at Bangabhaban, the President recalled that India as a friendly country made a great contribution to the country’s liberation war in 1971.

Admiral Verma expressed his happiness for visiting the Bangladesh’s naval bases including the base in Chittagong. He highly appreciated the performance and skill of Bangladesh naval officers and sailors.

Verma termed Bangladesh people hardworking and said they would be able to develop the country though dedication and determination.

“We’ll be very happy to strengthen the relation and cooperation between the two neighboring countries in the coming days,” he said.

Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Rajeet Mitter, Secretary to the President's Office Mohammad Shafiul Alam, Military Secretary to the President Maj Gen Abul Kalam Md. Humayun Kabir and Press Secretary AKM Nesar Uddin Bhuiyan were present

unbconnect.com

Indian navy chief Admiral Nirmal Verma paid tribute to armed force members who braced martyrdom during war of independence in 1971 by placing bouquet of flowers at Shikha Anirban at the Armed Forces Headquarters in Dhaka Cantonment this (Monday) morning.

He also made courtesy calls on Bangladesh Army chief Gen Md Abdul Mubeen at the Army Headquarters.

Later, he met with navy chief Vice Admiral Z U Ahmed at the Naval Headquarters at Banani, airforce chief Air Marshal Shah Md Ziaur Rahman at the Air Headquarters and acting PSO of the Armed Forces Division Commodore S A M A Abedin.

On his arrival at the Naval Headquarters, Verma was given guard of honour by a contingent of Bangladesh Navy.

He exchanged pleasantries with the chiefs of the three services and the AFD PSO and discussed various matters relating to interests of both countries` armed forces.

Verma was accompanied by an Indian naval officer and the defense adviser and the assistant defense adviser to the Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka.

The Indian Navy Chief will visit various naval structures in Khulna and Chittagong during his five-day stay.

He will also visit the Sunderbans before leaving Dhaka on April 7, said an ISPR release.

source

C. Raja Mohan

New Delhi : While it sails the far seas and conducts high profile joint exercises around the world, the Indian Navy has not forgotten the importance of tending the maritime neighbourhood.

Adm Nirmal Verma, the Chief of Naval Staff is in Bangladesh on a five-day official tour that started on Sunday. During his stay Adm Verma will visit the three major ports of the nation—Chittagong, Mongla and Khulna. He will also call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and President Zillur Rehman.

Adm Verma’s visit is indeed a part of Delhi’s current commitment to deepen the bilateral engagement with Dhaka on all fronts. During Sheikh Hasina’s visit to India in January 2010, both sides agreed to resolve the many long-standing problems between the two countries.

Some of them relate to maritime territorial disputes and the question of resource exploitation in the Bay of Bengal and are likely to come up during Adm Verma's talks.

Besides the bilateral dynamic with Bangladesh, Adm. Verma’s trip underlines India’s more focused defence diplomacy in the region.

Cribbing about our unfriendly neighbours and complaining about the warm military ties between them and China, India in the past simply neglected security diplomacy in Southern Asia.

Delhi has now consciously chosen to step up military interaction with all our neighbours. The only exception is Pakistan, where the Generals have never shown any interest in a structured interaction between the armed forces of the two countries.

Pak Army Chiefs prefer to deal with Indian political leadership when are directly in charge of running the country and don the presidential mantle. When they hold the remote, the Pak Army leadership does not want to be drawn into any service-to-service engagement with its Indian counterparts.

Last year, Adm Verma visited Sri Lanka twice and hosted his Sri Lankan counterpart in India. The Army Chief Gen. V.K. Singh and the Air Chief ACM Vasant Naik traveled to Colombo in January this year.

The Indian Air Chief traveled to Dhaka in January 2010 and had received his Bangla counterpart in 2009. The three service chiefs now regularly travel in the neighbourhood and host their counterparts.

This intensive military diplomacy is driven by the recognition of the need to build solid institutional links with the armed forces of our neighbouring countries. But Delhi has much work to do before it can match China’s defence diplomacy in the Subcontinent.

Besides regular high level military exchanges, China has emerged as one of the main suppliers of arms to all our neighbours. India is yet to generate surplus weapons production and a policy for arms exports in the region.

indianexpress.com

The head of India's navy, Adm. Nirmal Verma, recently met with senior military and civilian officials in Bangladesh, including Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and President Mohammed Zillur. In an email interview, Sreeradha Datta, a research fellow at the Institute for Defense Studies and Analysis in New Delhi, discussed India-Bangladesh relations.

WPR: What is the recent history of India-Bangladesh relations?

Sreeradha Datta: Although they began as friends following Bangladesh's independence, India and Bangladesh quickly lapsed into indifferent if not hostile and antagonistic relations. The worst phase in bilateral ties occurred from 2001-2006. The two subsequently emerged again as friendly and supportive neighbors. With Bangladesh's Awami League coalition government coming to power in 2008, bilateral ties have strengthened further.

WPR: What are the major opportunities and obstacles facing the relationship going forward?

Datta: The joint communiqué signed during Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's visit to India in January 2010 laid the foundation of a new cooperative framework. Following Bangladesh's actions against anti-Indian groups and terror elements, a grateful India lent its support to infrastructure development and other projects within Bangladesh. In addition to the $1 billion credit line it offered to Bangladesh, India has initiated infrastructure development on its side of the border in order to facilitate trade. The two sides also signed a trade-transit agreement, and, in a major breakthrough, Bangladesh will be buying power from India's Tripura state. Combined, these developments will transform trade and economic ties.

Although several agreements have been inked, the critical challenge lies in the actual implementation of the projects. The impatient Bangladeshi population needs to be convinced of their tangible benefits -- and quickly. However, two critical obstacles revolve around land- and maritime-boundary demarcation and water-sharing. The demarcation of a 4-mile stretch of land along the 2,500-mile Indo-Bangladeshi border is complicated by issues of enclaves and adverse possessions. The question of the maritime boundary presently rests with the U.N. arbitration council. Resolving these issues will positively influence bilateral relations.

Water is also a critical factor in relations and has an enormous emotional impact on Bangladeshi opinion. The pending agreement over the River Teesta will be a litmus test for the two sides.

WPR: What is the significance of the move to expand their defense ties?

Datta: The thaw in India's relations with Bangladesh's military began with the visit of Bangladeshi army chief Moeen Ahmed to India in early 2008, after a 10-year gap in contacts. The visit clearly signaled the Bangladeshi army's willingness to improve relations with India. Ahmed's Indian counterpart undertook a reciprocal visit soon after. This period also witnessed a visit to India by Bangaldeshi Border Force Director Shakil Ahmed. Significantly, the Bangladeshi security establishment assured India that it would address India's security concerns.

Following Hasina's 2010 visit, the two sides reinitiated joint military exercises after a noticeable gap. In addition, the Indian Air Force has helped to modernize Bangladesh's MiG-29 aircraft and Mi-17 helicopters and has provided maintenance for its fighter aircraft and helicopters. The Indian navy is also considering refurbishing and repairing the Bangladeshi navy's frigates. In this context, the Bangladeshi army chief's visit to India in March 2010 was clearly significant, as was the symbolism of Bangladeshi Gen. M. Abdul Mubeen being the first South Asian military chief to visit the Siachen Glacier.

Clearly, the Awami government's position vis-à-vis India has the full support of the military. This could be a new beginning for defense ties between the two sides.

http://www.worldpoliticsreview.com/trend-lines/8598/global-insider-india-bangladesh-relations

More than 50 African Union peacekeepers have died in fighting in Somalia since a major offensive against Islamist militants began two weeks ago, officials told The Associated Press on Friday.

The death toll is far higher than any publicly acknowledged casualty figures for the AU, which appears to be trying to keep the extent of its losses under wraps due to political considerations in Burundi, one of two nations providing the bulk of the forces that are fighting alongside Somali troops.

The offensive aims to break Islamists’ lock on large swaths of the country’s south and central regions. Al-Shabab, a Somali militant group with links to al-Qaeda, has boxed in the government to just a few city blocks of the seaside capital. The group has instituted a Taliban-style system of rule, with strict edicts enforced by their own courts and public executions.

The government has been promising a full-scale war against militants for years, but coordination among its poorly trained, seldom-paid government forces has delayed that push.

The AU force, known as AMISOM, has publicly confirmed only a handful of deaths since heavy fighting broke started on February 19. An AU spokesman in Nairobi did not answer calls on Friday. Burundi’s government spokesman was unavailable for comment.

Wafula Wamunyinyi, the second-highest ranking official on the AU’s commission for Somalia, declined to discuss casualty figures when reached on Friday.

“I don’t have that information where I am now,” he said.

Two Nairobi-based diplomats said at least 43 Burundian and 10 Ugandan troops have been killed since Feb. 18, citing information from people involved in the operation. The two spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the press.

In addition, a Burundian soldier has been captured alive by militants, and his image and a recorded statement have been circulating on websites used by al-Shabab, Somalia’s most dangerous insurgent group.

AMISOM says hundreds of militants from al-Shabab have been killed in the offensive. AMISOM officials say peacekeepers have taken back insurgent-controlled areas of Mogadishu, the capital. The AU says it controls up to 60 per cent of the city.

There are around 8,000 AU forces in Mogadishu, with another 4,000 due to begin arriving over the next few months. Almost all are Ugandan or Burundian. They support the country’s weak U.N.-backed government against al-Shabab.

Few officials seem willing to acknowledge the heavy casualties AMISOM troops have suffered. But a statement from France’s Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs on Tuesday said that France evacuated 13 AMISOM troops by military aircraft to neighbouring Djibouti, where the French have a base, for medical care.

Since the offensive began, AMISOM troops have taken three key militant positions, including the former defence ministry that overlooks Bakara market, an insurgent stronghold. If the AU is able to deny al-Shabab access to the market, it might be able to deny the insurgency a key revenue stream — collecting taxes from traders.

Troops also uncovered a mile-long tunnel network that militants were using to move fighters and ammunition close to AU positions in government-held areas. Fighting has been fierce, often building-to-building. During a prior visit to Mogadishu, AU soldiers showed AP how they were able to move from house to abandoned house by punching holes in the walls between them.

The AU troops fight with no air support, little body armour and armoured vehicles that are vulnerable to attack by rocket-propelled grenades.

The fighting has spread beyond the Somali capital, to the Kenyan and Ethiopian borders. In Somalia’s south, fighters secretly recruited from refugee camps in 2009 and trained in Kenya have been pressed into action. A clan-based militia nominally allied with the Somali government, Ahlu Sunnah Wal Jama, is fighting the Islamists in Somalia’s southeast.

It remains unclear whether the Somali government and its international backers have any plan to secure and develop territory they gain. The government has long failed to provide services or security to its people and its mandate expires in August.

The corruption and inefficiency has greatly hampered efforts to wrest back control of the country from the Islamists. Unpaid soldiers often sell their arms or ammunition, sometimes even to the other side.

A report last month by the think tank International Crisis Group described the government as being on “life support.” It urged the international community to redirect funding and support to regional administrations if the Somali government does not make significant progress in building alliances and providing better services.

Somalia has not had a functioning government for more than 20 years. Its lawless shores are a haven for pirates and intelligence agencies fear the failed state is also a training ground for international terrorists. Last July, the Somali insurgency launched its first foreign attack, multiple suicide bombings in Uganda that killed 76.

Medical authorities say the most recent round of fighting has killed more than 100 Somali civilians.

Procured in 2011, Made in South Korea.
Armaments: 3 x 7.62 mm MGs.
Inventory: 8 x in 2011 + addition units to be procured next year for BN and BCG

Last month the Bangladesh Navy released a tender on 2 x Guided Missile Corvettes. Only two suppliers showed interest including Turkish company STM Savunma Teknolojileri Mühendislik ve Ticaret A.Ş. (STM). This company was responsible for the design and project management of the Turkish Milgem class guided missile corvettes. In most likelihood STM will win the contract and start constructing corvettes very similar to the Milgem class. There are two variants of the Milgem class, including Version I and Version II. Version two is more modular in design and is flexible enough to accommodate Bangladesh Navy's requirements in regards to combat fire control systems, electronics package and armaments.

Armaments options the Bangladesh Navy could possibly select:

1 - 76 mm AK-176 (Main gun)
2 - OTO 40 mm (CIWS)
3 - C-802 or C-803 (SSM)
4 - No VLS? (VLS)
5 - FM-90N/Crotale (SHORAD)
6 - STOP 25/30/35 mm (Auto-cannon)
7 - STAMP 12.7 mm (RCWS-MG)
8 - Yu-7 or Mu-90 (Torpedo)
9 - Z-9EC (ASW Helicopter)

New Delhi, Nov 23 (bdnews24.com) – Chief of Army Staff General Mohammad Abdul Mubeen will review the passing out parade of India's premier National Defence Academy near Pune in the country's western state of Maharashtra on Nov 29.

The Indian Army has invited Gen Mubeen to be the reviewing officer of the passing out parade of the 121st course of the NDA at Khadakwasla near Pune.

The Bangladesh army chief will be the third foreigner to take the salute of the newly passed out cadets of the prestigious institution after late Chinese premier Chou En Lai and former chief of then Royal Nepal Army Gen P J Thapa.

Gen Mubeen will be visiting the prestigious military training institute during his six-day tour to India. He will meet the chiefs of the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force in New Delhi and will also visit Paratroopers' Training School at Agra in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. He is also likely to visit Indian Army's Eastern Command at Fort Williams in Kolkata.

His visit to India is a reciprocation of a similar tour by chief of the Indian Army Gen V K Singh last June.

"The Bangladeshi Army chief's visit is a good thing to happen to the academy," NDA commandant Lt Gen Jatinder Singh told journalists in Pune recently.

Dhaka and New Delhi have over the past few months been trying to strengthen bilateral military-to-military relation.

Bangladesh and India may hold a number of joint operations next year.

Chou En-Lai was the chief guest for the NDA's passing out parade in Dec 1956, and Gen Thapa was the chief guest in Nov 2004.

According to Russian military messenger, Nov. 18 reported that the Bangladesh Air Force Ziao Rahman recently in London at the '2011 International Fighter conference,' said China has ordered the country's 16 new F-7BGI light aircraft will be delivered beginning in 1012, but he did not disclose other details about the transaction information. Analysts pointed out that these F-7BGI may be used to replace Bashar Meng Air Force Base (located near Dhaka Mon 21 Squadron equipped with the old-fashioned Chinese-made A-5C attack aircraft. Meng said the Air Force Commander, F-7BGI China's Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group Company F-7-based research and development of new models, equipped with improved airborne equipment, including 'hand throttle lever' (ie 'hands on the bar 'control device, three multi-function cockpit displays and a HUD. The machine also has GPS system for navigation bomb throwing ability due to Bangladesh's orders, the legendary MiG-21 fighter production will continue to 2012.

Bangladesh Air Force in 2006, equipped with 16 F-7BG fighters and four FT-7BG coach - fighters, while in the earlier 1989-2000 period, Meng also received the Air Force installed 16 F-7MB fighter and 8 FT-7MB trainer aircraft - fighters these fighters (now there are 23 still in service were single-seat fighter and trainer aircraft were currently eight equipment in the MENG 5th and 35th Air Force squadron.
Meng also said the Air Force commander, purchasing F-7BGI is the new generation of fighter aircraft in the Air Force before the transitional measures adopted in the next 13-15 years, 20-32 Meng Air Force plans to buy new fighter aircraft, and most promising candidate models, including the U.S. F-16 and Russia's MiG-29SMT. In addition, Sweden's JAS-39 and Russian Su-30 may also participate in the competition. It is reported that Meng Air Force also plans to purchase in 1999 of its 10 MiG-29 fighter jets to modernize modification, and will also purchase a new trainer to replace the existing fleet of old L-39.
In addition, the Bangladesh Air Force will purchase a number of new trainer aircraft, used to replace the existing fleet of L-39, while its equipment in 1999, 8 Russian-made MiG-29 fighters will be in the next few years been upgraded