The Bangladesh Journal - Bangladesh Army Chief Moeen U Ahmed to visit India soon

By Golam Ahsan Jewel: According to news sources from India, Moeen U Ahmed, the Chief of Bangladesh Army is likely to meet for a crucial bilateral meeting with his Indian counterparts and political leaders very soon.

Certain Indian media outlets reported, New Delhi has pinned high hopes on the forthcoming visit of Lt. General Moeen U Ahmed to India, and is planning to raise all the issues of concern including the so called presence of "militant camps" and leaders of outfits like ULFA, NDFB and a few Manipuri outfits.

Although no date has been fixed as yet, Dhaka has reportedly confirmed that the Chief of Bangladesh Army would be travelling to New Delhi shortly for a meeting with General JJ Singh.

The meeting, which would be first of its kind in recent times, is significant because of the changed circumstances and willingness of India to do business with the caretaker regime, despite suspension political activities in Bangladesh. The thinking in Indian South Block is that India cannot wait for democracy to be restored to do business with Dhaka, given the high stakes.

As reported earlier, the UPA Government of India was sounded out early this year itself by the caretaker government that it was ready to mend fences with India. In exchange of a favourable deal, Bangladesh was willing to address New Delhi’s concern. To convey that it meant business, Dhaka had reportedly proposed to send over its Army Chief to India to discuss the deal.

Indian media wrote, "from the sell of transit route of gas for the North Eastern States to flushing out of the militant outfits like ULFA, NDFB and PLA, there were several vital issues, which India could not shelve into the cold storage. It seems that the caretaker regime is here to stay for now and it would not be in India’s interest to ignore its presence".

India is reportedly too keen to raise the level of discussion and the ensuing round of meeting is planned to be kept to the official-level. The two Army Chief would discuss the issues of mutual concerns.

Indian media hinted that New Delhi is likely to ask the Lt. General to shut down the camps being operated by the North-East based militants, hand over wanted leaders like Anup Chetia, clamp down on ULFA leaders besides curbing the illegal infiltration from the country. The growing clout of the fundamentalist forces is also another area of concern that is expected to be conveyed.

The Chief Adviser, Fakhruddin Ahmed was in India to attend the SAARC Summit and Indian leaders got an opportunity to size up the new regime. The Chief Adviser had met the Prime Minister, External Affairs Minister, Home Minister and other senior leaders during his brief stay.

Indian media reports went on to saying that the caretaker government under Dr. Fokruddin Ahmed is now trying to get India’s help amid certain crisis which ensued while the government tried to oust two former leaders Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia out of the country. It is reported that the caretaker government of Bangladesh may now seek India’s assistance in restraining Awami League, besides warding off international pressure.