Army Chief visiting Nepal, Bangladesh

New Delhi, March 28 (IANS) Indian Army Chief Bipin Rawat on Tuesday began a visit to Nepal and Bangladesh, the Indian Army said.

This is his first foreign visit after assuming office.

In Nepal, Rawat will be visiting important military installations and meeting high ranking dignitaries including Prime Minister Pushpa Kumar Dahal 'Prachanda', Defence Minister Balkrishna Khand and his counterpart, Gen. Rajendra Chettri.

The delegation will also visit Nepalese Army Mountain Warfare School at Jomsom and the Pension Paying office at Pokhra where the Indian Army chief, who is a Gorkha Rifles officer, will address the Indian Army ex-servicemen of Nepalese origin.

During his Nepal visit, President Bidya Devi Bhandari will confer the title of "Honorary General of the Nepalese Army" to Rawat at a special investiture ceremony on March 29.

This is as per a historic tradition as per which Indian Army Chief is the Honorary Chief of the Nepalese Army, and vice versa.

The reciprocal arrangement is continuing uninterrupted since its inception in 1969 and has been a hallmark of the special relationship between the Indian and the Nepalese Army.

Chettri was conferred the title of "Honorary General of the Indian Army" on February 3, 2016, during his first visit to India after assuming office.

The Nepal visit will be followed by a visit to Bangladesh, where the Army Chief will be meeting President Abdul Hamid, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and his counterpart, Gen. Abu Belal Muhammad Shafiul Huq. The delegation will also visit headquarters of an Infantry Division and the Armoured Corps Centre at Bogra.

"This visit will help strengthen mutual trust with immediate neighbourhood particularly in the field of defence cooperation," an army statement said.

Rawat will return on April 2.