DHAKA, 29 January, 2021 (TON): The Army Chief of Bangladesh, General Azizi Ahmed is leaving Dhaka on Friday to visit to the U.S. at the invitation of his U.S. Army counterpart.

Reports stated that the matters to be discussed expected to be the regional security and mutual defense cooperation at the U.S. Office of the Secretary of Defense for Policy, South and Southeast Asia during the visit, the Inter-Services Public Relations Directorate or ISPR said in a statement on Thursday.

Defense structures and training facilities of the U.S. Army will also be the part of the discussions.

A courtesy call would be made to the US army chief to discuss ways to strengthen ties between the two armies.

Gen Aziz will exchange views with the military adviser at the UN peacekeeping mission and under-secretaries general as well.

His visit is expected to play an important role in increasing the number of Bangladeshi UN peacekeepers, conducting peacekeeping missions properly and ensuring the country’s participation at the policymaking level of the missions, the ISPR said.

The army chief will return from the on February 12, 2021.

In the last year, the diplomatic relations between the two countries were seen burgeoning when the U.S. stepped up its efforts to entice Bangladesh into buying more of its military hardware, as it hopes to win over an "emerging" ally in South Asia, where China had been expanding its economic influence. Bangladesh has also been putting efforts to modernize its military by 2030.