United News of Bangladesh

India’s parliament was thrown into turmoil after opposition leader Rahul Gandhi attempted to quote from an unpublished memoir by former army chief General MM Naravane, in which top political leaders are accused of failing to give clear instructions during the 2020 border clash with China. The memoir, titled Four Stars of Destiny, has been awaiting government clearance since 2024. Gandhi’s attempt to read excerpts during a parliamentary debate on Monday was repeatedly interrupted, bringing proceedings to a standstill. He said the book claimed that as Chinese tanks advanced, Naravane was told “to do what he deemed appropriate,” highlighting a lack of direction from political leadership during the Galwan valley standoff in Ladakh, which left 20 Indian and at least four Chinese soldiers dead. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accused Gandhi of insulting the Indian army and violating parliamentary rules by citing an unpublished work. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Home Minister Amit Shah demanded that Gandhi present the actual book in the house. Gandhi insisted his source was authentic and held up a copy of the unpublished memoir to reporters on Wednesday, asserting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had effectively left operational decisions to Naravane. Naravane served as India’s army chief from 2019 to 2022. His memoir, which details his personal life and military career, has been delayed amid concerns that it contains sensitive operational information. Under Indian law, retired military officials must obtain clearance from their former organizations before publishing material that could affect national security. Experts say retired officers can receive approval, be asked for revisions, or face rejection if content is deemed sensitive. Naravane is not the first Indian army chief to publish a memoir recounting military conflicts, with past works covering confrontations with Pakistan and operations in Kashmir. The controversy has reignited political debate over India’s handling of the 2020 China standoff and raised questions about transparency, civil-military relations, and parliamentary procedures. Eight Congress MPs were later suspended for disorderly conduct as disruptions continued into Tuesday. Gandhi has previously accused the Modi government of “ceding” Indian territory to China during the 2020 border clash, claims the government strongly denies. The political row comes amid ongoing scrutiny of India-China relations and the strategic management of disputed Himalayan border areas.   With inputs from BBC

Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen on Sunday said the nature of peacekeeping has changed due to the use of advanced technology and sophisticated weapons, the misuse of social media and the ongoing global epidemic. He made the remarks at the “Army Chiefs' Conclave” at multipurpose complex of Dhaka Cantonment. Bangladesh Army organised the seminar with the participation of local and foreign military and civilian dignitaries. Also read: Bangladesh tops in UN Peacekeeping Mission Foreign Minister Momen said meaningful mutual cooperation, increased participation of women and development of health-related emergencies were essential to address the challenges posed by this unprecedented global epidemic in establishing world peace. The main topic of discussion at the seminar was ‘Future Trend of Global Conflict: The Role of UN Peacekeepers’.

Visiting Indian Army Chief General MM Naravane made a courtesy call on Bangladesh Army Chief General Aziz Ahmed at the Army Headquarters of Dhaka Cantonment on Thursday. During the meeting, they discussed various issues related to the existing good relations between the armed forces of the two countries and mutual cooperation in the future. Issues related to the implementation of the Border Road Organization, training of Army pilots, exchange of defense experts and trainers, mutual defense cooperation got priority during the discussion, says an Inter Service Public Relation (ISPR) media release. Also read: Indian Army chief arrives in Bangladesh General Aziz expressed gratitude for India's commendable cooperation in tackling the Covid-19 pandemic. He also hoped that India would be beside Bangladesh in resolving the Rohingya crisis. Earlier, General Naravane paid tributes to the members of the Bangladesh Armed Forces who made supreme sacrifices during the Liberation War of 1971, by laying a wreath at the altar of Shikha Anirban in Dhaka Cantonment. Also read: India offers Covid vaccine for Bangladesh army Later, the Indian Army Chief was then given a "Guard of Honor" by a smart team of the Bangladesh Army at Senakunja. Then General Naravane planted  a sapling at Senakunja. Indian Army chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane arrived in Dhaka on Thursday on a five-day visit. The Indian Army chief is accompanied by his wife Veena Naravane and a two-member delegation.

Indian Army chief General MM Naravane on Tuesday embarked on a six-day tour of the Gulf states of the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, the first such visit by a top military commander of this country.

Indian Army chief General MM Naravane is on a three-day tour of Nepal, a visit aimed at reviving the strained ties between the neighbouring nations.