IAF Chief to visit Bangladesh next week

In a bid to strengthen military ties, IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal N A K Browne will be on a visit to Bangladesh next week.

The IAF Chief will discuss ways of enhancing and further strengthening ties between the two air-forces, IAF officials said here.

Browne will also hold discussions with the senior political and military leadership of the neighbouring country.

This will be the second time in last two years that an IAF Chief will visit Dhaka. Former IAF Chief ACM P V Naik had gone there in January, 2010.

It is understood that there is a possibility of the two sides co-operating in maintenance of the MiG 29 fleet being operated by the Bangladesh Air Force.

Army Chief Gen V K Singh had also visited Dhaka last year and gifted equipment and other aid to the Bangladesh army.

The two countries have developed close defence ties in the last few years and even begun military exercises.

In a recent exercise, special forces of the two countries had held an exercise in Bangladesh and have also started holding staff-level talks