The high commissioner of Bangladesh to Nigeria, Mainul Kabir, has reaffirmed Bangladesh’s commitment to deepening defence and maritime security cooperation with the Nigerian Navy.

In a statement on Wednesday, the navy said the cooperation focuses on maritime security, professional training, technology exchange, naval shipbuilding, and defence-industrial development.

The engagement also explored opportunities for training and professional exchanges, naval technology, shipbuilding and indigenous industrial development.

Mr Kabir said this during a high-level engagement with the chief of naval staff, Idi Abbas, on Wednesday in Abuja. He underscored the need to translate the international relationship into practical cooperation.

Mr Abbas thanked the Bangladesh envoy and his delegation for the visit and highlighted Nigeria’s operational experience in combating piracy and other maritime crimes in the Gulf of Guinea.

Mr Abbas noted that this experience created opportunities for professional exchanges and shared learning, while emphasising the importance of stronger cooperation among regional navies in addressing maritime threats that transcend national boundaries.

He also referenced Nigeria’s participation in multinational maritime security initiatives, including engagement with the Combined Maritime Task Force, as a framework that could be leveraged to counter militancy on the maritime border between Myanmar and Bangladesh.

He expressed Nigeria’s interest in the Bangladesh garment manufacturing industry, noting it as a potential area for knowledge sharing to support local production of military uniforms.

The meeting underscores the importance of sustained engagement between the navy and other world navies to strengthen maritime security, develop professional and technical capacity, promote indigenous defence-industrial capabilities, and advance mutually beneficial bilateral relations.

(NAN)