Bangladesh Army Chief Undertakes Working Visit To Gambia Armed Forces
The Bangladesh Army Chief General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed on Tuesday undertook working visit to the Gambia Armed Forces Training School in Fajara Barracks in Bakau to assess and make an informed decision.
The inspection came after the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Gambia Armed Forces (GAF) and Bangladesh to possibly join a co-deployment, for the first time in history since the formation of the United Nations settings.
Also first time since the formation of the African Union and ECOWAS for the two countries to work as partners under one umbrella for the promotion and maintenance of global peace.
Speaking to journalists shortly after the inspection on Tuesday, Chief of Defense Staff Lt General, Yankuba A.Drammeh revealed that the purpose of the Bangladesh Army Chief General working visit to the Gambia was to assess and make an informed decision.
He noted that the visit was also to see what could perhaps be divergence in terms of limitations in the side of the Gambia Armed Forces to see whether it can field those gaps, which also exposed the willingness and the commitment on the side of the Bangladesh to see the co-deployment between the Gambia Armed Forces and Bangladesh.
He said this partnership came after the UN shared a proposal with the Gambia Armed Forces to say what is the possibility of co-deploying with Bangladesh, noting that when this proposal was shared with them from their permanent missions at the United Nations, they, in the Gambia Armed Forces received this message with delights and optimism.
‘On that basis, His Excellency, President Adama Barrow was adequately briefed which he also consented to, and as the commander in chief in line with the constitution, he has the prerogative to accept when and where the Gambia Armed Forces would be deployed through normal processes,’ he said. He noted in that process, the Parliament would be informed as well.
‘From that moment we started putting all the mechanisms to actualize this proposal and on that basis, last February, President Adama Barrow tasked a high-powered delegation led by the Foreign Affairs Minister to undertake what we call worldwide mission to Bangladesh to convey their special request,’ CDS Drammeh told journalists.
He advanced ‘Bangladesh is the largest contributing country when it comes to the United Nations. They have over 8000 troops in the UN in all the dimensions at the level of military, Aviation and at the Sea-level.’ He added that when the proposal was shared with the Prime Minister of Bangladesh in principles, she accepted the proposal.
‘Form there, both sides have been in consultations with Bangladesh while UN serving as a mediator to put in place the mechanisms, procedures and programs to see a joint deployment between Bangladesh and GAF,’ he said.
CDS Drammeh thanked the government of Bangladesh for availing the Gambia Armed Forces a rare opportunity to co-deplore with fine men and women in uniform.
