India-Bangladesh SAMPRITI-XI: Joint Military Exercise Begins

Tags: Defence International News

India and Bangladesh began the 11th edition of their annual joint military exercise, SAMPRITI, in Umroi, Meghalaya on October 3, 2023.

An Overview of the News

• SAMPRITI is organized by both countries on a rotation basis and is a symbol of their strong bilateral defense cooperation.

• Around 350 troops from India and Bangladesh will participate in SAMPRITI-XI and the exercise is scheduled to last for 14 days.

• SAMPRITI-XI consists of a Command Post Exercise (CPX) and a Field Training Exercise (FTX).

• The CPX consists of 20 officials from each team and focuses on making decisions after thorough deliberations.

• FTX validates ground-level operations and includes joint tactical exercises for counter-terrorism operations, such as hostage rescue and crowd control measures.

Verification Exercises and 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' Tools:

• A validation exercise will be conducted at Darrang Field Firing Range in Assam on October 14 and 15, 2023.

• During this exercise, participants will see the capabilities of 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' equipment highlighting indigenous manufacturing.

Strengthening Bilateral Relations:

• SAMPRITI-XI aims to enhance defense cooperation between India and Bangladesh.

• It promotes deeper bilateral relations, cultural understanding and mutual benefit through shared experiences in sub-traditional operations.

• The exercise emphasizes on improving interoperability, sharing tactical expertise and promoting best practices between the two armies.

About Bangladesh

• It is located in South Asia and is bordered by India to the north, east and west and Myanmar to the southeast.

• The country is home to several major rivers, including the Padma (Ganga), Meghna and Jamuna, which flow through the country and create fertile plains important for agriculture.

Capital - Dhaka

Currency - Bangladeshi Taka

Official Languages - Bengali, English

Prime Minister - Sheikh Hasina