[🇧🇩-Land] Military Cooperation Between Bangladesh and Other Nations

[Saif]

They are apparently still going around threatening us. India behaving like they do - as always...

India is bullying Bangladesh. Need to align with China to keep India in check.

 

[Saif]

Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia for strengthening bilateral military ties

First Joint Committee Meeting on Defence Cooperation held

www.thedailystar.net

Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia for strengthening bilateral military ties
First Joint Committee Meeting on Defence Cooperation held

Photo: ISPR

Strengthening bilateral military relations and achieving mutual defence objectives were the focus of the first Joint Committee Meeting on Defence Cooperation between Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia, which concluded at Dhaka Cantonment today.

The three-day meeting, held under the overall supervision of the Armed Forces Division (AFD), marked "a significant step forward in deepening military ties between the two brotherly countries," said the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) in a statement.

The talks aimed to enhance mutual relations, expand strategic cooperation, and coordinate key areas such as joint military training, education, defence industry, and military exercises.

Major General Hamed Rafi Al-Amri led the 15-member Saudi delegation, comprising military and civilian officials. Lt Gen SM Kamrul Hassan, principal staff officer of the AFD, headed the Bangladesh delegation.

Senior officers from both sides participated in the discussions, which were held in a spirit of fraternity, mutual respect, and cooperation.

Expressing hope for continued collaboration, Maj Gen Al-Amri said the two nations, bound by Islamic brotherhood, would continue working together in defence and other sectors.

He said he firmly believed that military cooperation would elevate bilateral relations to a new height and expressed optimism that the partnership would endure in the future.

In his concluding statement, Lt Gen Hassan thanked the Saudi delegation and all participants, including members of the media.

He described the meeting as an "important milestone" in the growing friendship between Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia.

On behalf of the Bangladesh Armed Forces, he expressed deep gratitude to King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for their support in making the meeting possible.

He reaffirmed Bangladesh's commitment to mutual respect, brotherhood, and peace, and highlighted the love and reverence the people of Bangladesh hold for Saudi Arabia as the custodian of the two holy mosques and a contributor to global peace.

Wishing continued prosperity for both nations, he invited the Saudi delegation to visit Bangladesh again.

It was decided that the second session of the Bangladesh-Saudi Arabia Joint Committee on Defence Cooperation will be held in the third quarter of 2026, the release added.​

 

[Saif]

Bangladesh set to sign defence purchase deal with Japan

Tokyo had previously proposed signing an agreement on the transfer of defence equipment and technology between the two Asian nations

www.tbsnews.net

Bangladesh set to sign defence purchase deal with Japan

Tokyo had previously proposed signing an agreement on the transfer of defence equipment and technology between the two Asian nations.

Flags of Bangladesh and Japan. Illustration: Collected

Bangladesh is set to sign an agreement with Japan to procure defence equipment with Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, who holds the defence portfolio, having already given his consent.

The defence ministry has now sent the document – a copy of which has been seen by The Business Standard – to the Public Security Division, the foreign ministry, the Finance Division, and the Economic Relations Division for their final approval and opinions on the agreement.

Tokyo had previously proposed signing an agreement on the transfer of defence equipment and technology between the two Asian nations.

All three branches of the armed forces – the Bangladesh Army, Bangladesh Navy, and Bangladesh Air Force – along with the foreign ministry have expressed no objections to the agreement.

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Based on Bangladesh's feedback, Japan revised the draft agreement and has resubmitted it for final consent.

Officials at the defence ministry said Bangladesh and Japan enjoy friendly bilateral relations, which also extend to the armed forces of both countries.

A Memorandum of Understanding on defence cooperation was signed in April 2023 during a visit by the then prime minister Sheikh Hasina, aiming to elevate the existing comprehensive partnership between the two nations to a strategic partnership.

The agreement is expected to further strengthen military ties between the two countries, the officials added.

Japanese military equipment manufacturers have shown interest in selling arms to Bangladesh for several years. Meanwhile, a delegation of Japanese military equipment manufacturers has visited Bangladesh.

Japan requested Bangladesh to sign the agreement during a foreign secretary-level meeting between the two countries held in Dhaka last June.

The United States has also been negotiating with Bangladesh for several years to sign specialised defence pacts – the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) and the Acquisition Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA). So far, Bangladesh has expressed interest in signing GSOMIA.

China and Russia remain the primary suppliers of arms to Bangladesh, which also imports weapons from neighbouring India.

As Bangladesh's financial capacity grows, the number of countries interested in selling arms to the nation has also increased. Countries such as Italy, Türkiye, Sweden, and France have been offering arms sales to Bangladesh.​

 

[Saif]

A high level meeting between Bangladesh and Saudi armed forces has just taken place where cooperation in the field of joint military drill, defense production and exchange of training has been discussed. Saudi Arabia can help Bangladesh by building defense industry through technology transfer and investment.