Our Correspondent / New Delhi
Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Lanba is on a five day goodwill visit to Bangladesh from today. During his stay, Admiral Lanba is scheduled to meet President Md. Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
He will also hold bilateral discussions with the chiefs of the three Armed Forces of Bangladesh and other senior officials.
The visit is aimed at consolidating bilateral defence relations between India and Bangladesh and to explore new avenues for naval cooperation.
The Admiral will also visit various Bangladesh Naval establishments in Chittagong and Khulna. Admiral Lanba will inaugurate the first edition of Indian Navy-Bangladesh Navy Coordinated Patrol (CORPAT).
According to an official release, the commencement of CORPAT is a major step towards enhanced operational interaction between both navies.
AIR correspondent adds, naval cooperation between India and Bangladesh has been traditionally strong.
The cooperation includes operational interactions through Port Calls, Passage Exercises, Capacity Building, Capability Enhancement and Training initiatives. Bangladesh Navy was also the Chair of Indian Ocean Naval Symposium launched by the Indian Navy in 2008.