Dhaka: India wants to explore new avenues for naval cooperation with Bangladesh towards achieving comprehensive maritime security in the Bay of Bengal.

Indian Navy chief Admiral RK Dhowan is already in city on a four-day visit and met President Abdul Hamid at Bangabhaban on Monday.

“The visit is intended to further consolidate the defence relations between the two countries and also to explore new avenues for naval cooperation towards achieving comprehensive maritime security in the Bay of Bengal,” according to Indian Press Information Bureau (PIB).  

During his stay at Bangladesh, the Indian Navy chief is scheduled to hold bilateral discussions with the three Service Chiefs in Dhaka. He will also meet Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

The CNS will also visit various training and operational facilities at Khulna and Chittagong.

The Indian and Bangladeshi navies cooperate with each other in various areas of technical training, participation in Victory Day celebrations, Navy-to-Navy Staff Talks as well as through interactions at various multilateral fora such as the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium, and the Western Pacific Naval Symposium, said the media release.

The Bangladeshi Navy has been regularly participating in the MILAN series of exercises conducted by Indian Navy at Port Blair, and warships from both Navies call at each other’s ports.  

These avenues for cooperation provide an excellent opportunity for professional exchanges, developing interoperability and building camaraderie.

The major issues that are likely to be discussed by the Indian Navy chief include exchange of white shipping information towards development of comprehensive maritime domain awareness, cooperation in maritime infrastructure development, training and exchange of subject matter experts.  

Besides, Bangladesh Navy has been invited to attend the prestigious International Fleet Review being organised by the Indian Navy at Visakhapatnam in February 2016.