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OPINION JULY 26, 2024 | The Indian Eye 10

India-Bangladesh Augmenting

Maritime Cooperation in

the Indo-Pacific

India recognises Bangladesh “as a close and valued neighbour with rapidly growing

capabilities…and a crucial partner under India’s “Neighbourhood First” policy, the “Act East”

policy and the SAGAR doctrine and the Indo-Pacific vision”

DR. PRAGYA PANDEY

angladesh will join the Indo
Pacific Oceans Initiative
B(IPOI) to co-lead ‘Disaster
Risk Reduction and Management’
pillar of the IPOI, with India. This
was one of the most important out-
come of the Bangladesh’s Prime
Minister (PM) Sheikh Hasina’s re-
cent visit to India, from 21 to 22 June
2024. It was the first incoming bilat-
eral State Visit after the formation of
the Government in India, following
the 18th Lok Sabha elections.
During the visit the ‘India-Ban-
gladesh Shared Vision for Future:
Enhancing Connectivity, Commerce
and Collaboration for Shared Pros-
perity, was announced. The vision
document states that both the sides
have a converging vision for a free,
open, inclusive, secure, and rules-
based Indo-Pacific. It highlighted
the significance of India-Bangladesh
partnership “to peace, security and
stability in the region….and recog-
nising the vulnerability of the region
to adverse impacts of climate change,
the two sides have agreed to co-lead
the ‘Disaster Risk Reduction and Indian Navy chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi calls on Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during his visit to Bangladesh, on Tuesday (ANI)
Management’ pillar of the IPOI.”
Among other important announce-
ments made during the visit were the SAGAR doctrine and the Indo-Pa- to explore new avenues for naval co- INS Ranvir, from the Eastern Naval
signing of a MoU on Maritime Co- cific vision”. operation”. During his crucial visit, Command arrived at Chattogram,
operation and Blue Economy, and Marking the significance of mar- Admiral Tripathi held bilateral dis- Bangladesh as part of an operation-
renewal of MoU for cooperation in itime cooperation between the two cussions with his counterpart Admi- al deployment. With the aim to fur-
Fisheries. neighbours, recently Chief of the ral M Nazmul Hassan and also had a ther ‘enhance interoperability and
Cooperation in the maritime Indian Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh meeting with the PM Sheikh Hasina. cooperation between the two navies,
domain therefore, has become an K Tripathi visited Bangladesh for During the meetings, the two sides through a series of engagements and
important facet of India-Bangla- a four-day official tour from 01 to reiterated long standing and robust activities, INS Ranvir participated
desh relations. India recognises 04 July 2024. It was his first bilat- ties between the navies of the two in a Maritime Partnership Exercise
Bangladesh “as a close and valued eral visit since he assumed charge countries. (MPX)/ PASSEX with ships of the
neighbour with rapidly growing ca- as the Chief of Navy in April 2024. Coinciding with the Navy Bangladesh Navy”.
pabilities…and a crucial partner un- The Navy Chief’s visit was to “con- Chief’s visit was the goodwill visit Frequent interactions have been
der India’s “Neighbourhood First” solidate bilateral defence relations by INS Ranvir in Chattogram. On taking place between the navies and
policy, the “Act East” policy and the between India and Bangladesh and 29 June 2024, Indian Naval Ship Continued on next page... >>

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