Bangladesh Army and Gambian Army may take initiative for the co-deployment of the troops at the UN peacekeeping missions.
Bangladesh Army Chief General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed on Sunday left the country for Gambia on a state visit at the invitation of the Gambian government.
According to the ISPR press release, General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed’s visit aims at testing capabilities and fixing the next course of action on the co-deployment of Bangladeshi and Gambian troops in the United Nations Peacekeeping Missions for the first time.
Earlier, a six-member high-level delegation led by Gambian Foreign Minister DrMamadouTangara made an official visit to Bangladesh from February 8 to 13 this year with a call for the co-deployment of the troops at the UN peacekeeping missions.
The delegation included Defence Minister Sheikh Omar Faye and Chief of Defence Staff Lieutenant General YankubaADrammeh, among others.
Responding to the proposal, the army chief departed the country for Gambia to test their capabilities in person there.
A tripartite meeting among the army chief, the Gambian government, and two representatives from the UN headquarters will be held in this regard.
General Shafiuddin will meet Gambian President Adama Barrow, foreign and defence ministers, the chief of defence staff, high military officials, and representatives of civil society during his visit, said the ISPR handout.
Different issues, including bilateral cooperation and training in peacekeeping activities, will be discussed between the countries.
The army chief is scheduled to return home on June 16, wrapping up his state visit.
