Multinational Military Exercise SHANTIR OGROSHENA 2021 (Front Runner of Peace) commenced on 04 April 2021 at Bangabandhu Senanibas, Bangladesh to commemorate the birth centenary of Bangladesh’s ‘Father of the Nation’ Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and mark glorious 50 years of liberation. Indian Army contingent of 30 personnel are participating along with contingent of Royal Bhutan Army, Sri Lankan Army and Bangladesh Army from 04 Apr to 12 Apr 2021. Military observers from USA, UK, Turkey, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Singapore will also be in attendance throughout the exercise.
The aim of the exercise is to strengthen the procedures and enhance interoperability amongst neighborhood countries to ensure robust peace-keeping operations in the region. The armies of all the participating nations will share their valuable experiences and refine their drills & procedures in Peacekeeping operations.
INDIA-BANGLADESH DEFENSE RELATIONS
India and Bangladesh’s Security Relations span since a long time, excepting at certain years following the change of the ruling party in Bangladesh changed the attitude of the relations. But, mostly it has inherited a deep legacy of establishing and training of the Mukti Bahini during the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971. Thus, since then a long relation has co-existed in this particular field of cooperation between the two countries.
During Sheikh Hasina’s four-day visit to New Delhi in April 2017, Bangladesh and India signed two defense agreements, the first such agreements between India and any of its neighbors. Under the agreements, the militaries of the two countries will conduct joint exercises and training. India will help Bangladesh set up manufacturing and service centers for defense platforms that both countries possess with the aim of achieving self-sufficiency in defense manufacturing in Bangladesh, and will also provide the Bangladesh military with expert training, and technical and logistic support. India also extended its first-ever defense-related line of credit to a neighboring country, by providing Bangladesh with $500 million to purchase defense equipment.
