Bangladesh strategically important to India

Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi on Monday said Bangladesh is strategically important to India.
"As of today, there is no vulnerability from any side," he said during the annual press conference organised on the occasion of the country's Army Day, reports Indian media.
India observes Army Day on January 15 every year.
"As of now, the relationship with the military is well and perfect..." Dwivedi noted.
"Bangladesh is strategically important to us... We are neighbours, we have to live together and understand each other and any kind of animosity is not in each other's interest," he said.
"I will take you back to the comment given by the Bangladesh army chief recently that India is strategically important to us and the same is vice versa," he said when asked to comment on the Bangladesh-India ties in the context of recent tension over border fencing. The Indian army chief also said, "I was in touch with the Bangladesh army chief even when this changeover took place. In November, we had a video conference also."

As far as military cooperation is concerned, it is going up in the same way, Dwivedi said, adding, "Our officers have moved there for the National Defence College (NDC) also."
"The only thing is because of the situation as of now, we have postponed the joint military exercise for some time. As and when the situation improves, the exercise will also go on," he added.
India summons Bangladesh envoy
Meanwhile, a day after the Bangladesh interim government summoned the Indian high commissioner in Dhaka to express deep concern over India's fencing on the border, the neighbouring country summoned a Bangladesh envoy over the issue on Monday.
India's Ministry of External Affairs summoned Nural Islam, deputy high commissioner of Bangladesh, to discuss the escalating tensions between New Delhi and Dhaka, reports Indian media.
The Bangladesh acting high commissioner was conveyed that with regard to security measures on the border, including fencing, India had observed all protocols and agreements between the two governments and between the Border Security Force and Border Guard Bangladesh, said the Ministry of External Affairs.
"India reiterated its commitment to ensuring a crime-free border by effectively addressing the challenges of cross-border criminal activities, smuggling, movement of criminals, and trafficking. Barbed wire fencing, border lighting, the installation of technical devices, and cattle fences are measures for securing the border," the Indian statement said.
Earlier on Sunday, Foreign Secretary Ambassador Md Jashim Uddin expressed the Bangladesh government's deep concern to High Commissioner of India Pranay Verma in his office at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs over the recent activities of India's Border Security Force (BSF) along the border.
After the meeting, Verma told the media he had met the foreign secretary to discuss India's commitment to ensuring a crime-free border, effectively addressing the challenges of smuggling, movement of criminals, and trafficking to have an understanding with regards to fencing the border for security.
"Our two border guard forces, BSF and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) have been in communication. Understanding and a co-operative approach will be implemented to combat crimes," the Indian envoy added.
Also on Sunday, Bangladesh's Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury blamed the ongoing border tensions on "unequal agreements" made during the previous government's tenure, saying these deals had caused multiple complications along the border.
"Due to some unequal agreements signed during the previous government's tenure, several issues have arisen along the Bangladesh-India border," he said.
Tensions escalated last week as BSF faced objections from BGB while attempting to install single-row barbed wire fencing at Sukdebpur in Malda's Baishnabnagar amid growing concerns over infiltration.
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