A joint Bangladesh-India military exercise, Exercise Sampriti-VIII, was held today in Tangail.

The joint drill witnessed participation of the Company of 36 East Bengal Battalion of Bangladesh Army and a company group of 9th Battalion the Rajputana Rifles from the Indian Army, our New Delhi correspondent reports quoting a press release issued by India's Defence Ministry.

The closing ceremony was graced by Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Riva Ganguly Das, who highlighted the special bond between the two nations.

The exercise, the 8th edition in the Sampriti series which started in 2009, strengthens and broadens interoperability and cooperation between the Indian and Bangladesh armies, the release read.

It is the fourth Indo-Bangladesh military exercise at Tangail and compliments a number of other exchanges and exercise between the two forces.

The commanders and staff officers of both sides were exercised to work in close coordination to receive and organise intelligence and to issue suitable operational orders to the joint field training components who executed these orders on ground in simulated realistic situations, according to the release.

The joint training culminated in a validation exercise conducted at Bangabandu Senanibas Cantonment in Tangail, in which sub-units of both the armies executed the plans. The validation exercise was reviewed by senior officers from both sides, it read.

Besides training, both contingents also participated in a number of activities including friendly volleyball and basketball matches.

A magnificent parade and the customary exchange of mementos marked the successful completion of the joint drill, the release added.