Army Chief General Aziz Ahmed returned to Dhaka following his visit to Zambia on Thursday.
He left Dhaka for Zambia on 30 April 2021 at the invitation of the Zambian Army Commander. During the visit, he met Zambia’s acting Minister of Defense, Zambian Army Commander, Acting Commander of Air Force, Commandants of the Zambia National Service and the Defense Services Command and Staff College, and inspected various training facilities at the Zambia Armed Forces.
On 3 May 2021, General Aziz Ahmed and the Acting Minister of Defense of Zambia Wezi Lukhele, discussed various issues of cooperation and relations between the two countries. Weji Lukhele expressed the intention of the Government of Zambia to take advantage of Bangladesh's expertise in agriculture, including establishing improved relations with Bangladesh and the Bangladesh Army.
Later, General Aziz Ahmed met with Zambian Army Commander, Lieutenant General William Maipambe Sikazwe at the Army Headquarters.
During the meeting, General Sikajwe expressed his interest in increasing military activities between the two armies. General Aziz Ahmed expressed his desire to conduct the Subject Matter Expert Exchange (SMEE) programme in various fields, including the exchange of training activities with the Zambian Army.
He also raised the issue of issuing on-arrival visas to members of the military in Zambia, which he assured would be taken up with the approval of the relevant ministry as soon as possible.
In the afternoon of the same day, General Aziz Ahmed met with Major General Benedict T. Kalinda, Acting Commander of the Zambia Air Force, at the Air Force Headquarters. General Aziz Ahmed welcomed Major General Kalinda's interest in training Zambia Air Force officers and members in various training institutes of the Bangladesh Armed Forces.
He also hoped that the relations between the two countries’ armed forces would be further strengthened in the future. During the visit, the Bangladesh Army Chief was accorded a sword of honor and a red carpet reception by two smart teams of the Zambian Army and Air Force.
Lieutenant General Nathan Mülenga, Commandant of the Zambia National Service, on May 4, the Chief of Army Staff paid a courtesy call on him. Meanwhile, General Aziz Ahmed invited the Zambia National Service delegation to inspect various activities of the Bangladesh Army and participate in various exercises organized by the Bangladesh Army. He later visited a unit of the Zambia National Service.