Sun News Desk: Army Chief General Aziz Ahmed returned home on Friday after a visit to the United States. He left Dhaka on January 29 at the invitation of the US Army Chief.

During the visit, Aziz Ahmed met with senior US military officials, including the US military chief. Inspected various military installations and training facilities of the US Army. He also met with senior officials of the UN peacekeeping mission.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a press release on Saturday.

On February 2, the Army Chief met with the Deputy Assistant Secretary, the Office of the Secretary of Defense for Policy South and Southeast Asia, and representatives of the Defense Security Co-operation, ISPR reported. During the meeting, various issues of mutual cooperation between the two countries were discussed. The Army Chief expressed hope that the United States would play an important role on the Rohingya issue from Bangladesh's side. Besides, General Aziz laid special emphasis on the speedy return of Rashed Chowdhury, the fugitive accused of killing Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, to Bangladesh.

On February 4, the US Army Chief of Staff, General McNavin, conferred the Guard of Honor on the Bangladesh Army Chief with full military honors, including the highest honor. The national anthems of Bangladesh and the United States were also played during the guard of honor at Arlington National Cemetery. He later attended a courtesy call and discussion with the U.S. military chief. During the meeting, he discussed in detail the strengthening of relations between the two countries' military force and mutual cooperation.

Last week, the Army Chief exchanged views with the Military Adviser to the UN Peacekeeping Mission, the Under-Secretary-General and the Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the United Nations. Prior to the talks, senior UN officials praised the professionalism of Bangladeshi peacekeepers. The talks called for the deployment of a new helicopter unit of the Bangladesh Army in the mission area and the provision of a 13-member military police detachment in Congo.

They also exchanged views on the use of Biman Bangladesh Airlines for the deployment of Bangladeshi peacekeepers in mission areas, thanking women peacekeepers for their contributions to peacekeeping missions and increasing the number of Bangladeshi peacekeepers in various mission areas, ISPR said.

The Chief of Army Staff assured senior UN officials that the Bangladesh Army would play a stronger role in maintaining world peace. The visit of the Chief of Army Staff will play an important role in increasing the participation of Bangladeshi peacekeepers in UN peacekeeping missions and increasing Bangladesh's representation at the policy-making and command level.