Royal Thai Army wants peacekeeping training in Bangladesh

Royal Thai Army wants to train its officers at the Bangladesh Institute of Peace Support Operation Training (BIPSOT) before deploying them to UN peacekeeping missions.

Commander-in-Chief of Royal Thai Army General Teerachai Nakwanich conveyed the interest when Bangladesh Ambassador in Bangkok Saida Muna Tasneem called on him on Monday.  

Nakwanich praised Bangladesh peacekeepers for their “professionalism and leadership” in UN Peacekeeping operations, the Bangladesh embassy said.  

The general reaffirmed the “excellent bonds” of diplomatic and defence cooperation between Bangladesh and Thailand even at regional and international forums, including OIC.  

Thailand is an observer at the OIC and cooperates with Bangladesh at the BIMSTEC, the embassy said.

Bangladesh and Thai army academies regularly exchange their cadets.

The ambassador put forward some proposals to further strengthen the relations between the two armies.

 She invited Thai senior and mid-ranking army officers to participate in the courses of the National Defence College and Defence Services Command and Staff College of Bangladesh.

She also sought “short term” professional training and post-graduate courses for Bangladesh Army Medical Corps Personnel in Thai Universities.

The two sides also discussed creation of an annual consultation forum at the staff level between the two armies and periodic joint exercises of special and counter terrorism forces.

The ambassador extended an invitation to the Commander-in-Chief on behalf of the Bangladesh army chief to visit Dhaka later this year.

General Teerachai also briefed the ambassador about the political reforms undertaken in Thailand and thanked the government of Bangladesh for its continued support. 

The chief also updated the ambassador on the revised roadmap of Prime Minister Chan-o-Cha for general elections to restore democracy in Thailand, said an embassy statement.