Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, accompanied with a 11-member delegation including Vice-Chiefs of the Army, Air Force and the Deputy Chief of the Navy, arrived in Dhaka today on a two-day visit, becoming the first Indian Defence Minister to visit the Bangladesh.<br/><br/>Parrikar was received at the Bangladesh Air Force Base Bangabandhu in Kurmitola in the capital by the Principal Staff Officer of Bangladesh Armed Forces Division Lt General Mohammed Mahfuzur Rahman along with officials of other concerned Ministries. <br/><br/>The Defence Minister is scheduled to have talks with Bangladesh's leadership to upgrade the bilateral defence co-operation and strengthen security relations. The Defence Minister is scheduled to meet President Abdul Hamid in the afternoon. This will be followed by talks with the Prime Minister's Security Adviser Tarique Ahmed Siddique in the evening. <br/><br/>Meanwhile the Deputy Chiefs of the three Services are scheduled to call on the Chiefs of the respective Bangladesh Armed Services to discuss matters relating to strengthen of bilateral defence co-operation. Parrikar is scheduled to visit the Bangladesh Military Academy in Chittagong tomorrow followed with one-to-one talks with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina who also holds the Defence portfolio.

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar arrives in Dhaka today on a 2 -day visit. This is the first ever visit of an Indian Defence Minister to Bangladesh. Defence Ministry says, Mr Parrikar will meet with Bangladesh top leadership in order to firm up defence initiatives ahead of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's visit to Delhi later in next month. <br/><br/>The Defence Minister is also scheduled to meet President Abdul Hamid today, followed by a meeting with the Prime Minister's Security Advisor later in the day. He is scheduled to visit Bangladesh Military Academy in Chittagong tomorrow and on his return to Dhaka have talks with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina who also holds the defence portfolio.<br/><br/>AIR Dhaka correspondent reports that the visit acquires importance in view of both countries' stand of zero tolerance against terrorism and the geopolitics of the region. There is a buzz in political and journalistic circles that the Defence Minister's visit to Bangladesh will boost India-Bangladesh defence co-operation on issues ranging from counter terrorism, counter-piracy to the geopolitics of the region. <br/><br/>Issues like bilateral naval and air force exercises, training and capability of Bangladesh defence personnel, supply of military hardware, technology transfer, co-ordinated patrolling of the international maritime boundary, joint surveillance of Exclusive Economic zones and co-operation in maritime resources offer scope for expanded bilateral defence co-operation between the two countries.