New Delhi, November 30 — Indian Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi reaffirmed India’s close ties with Bangladesh, describing the neighbouring country as a “friend” and expressing confidence that it will witness a positive shift following its parliamentary elections in February 2026.
Speaking at the Passing Out Parade of the 149th Course of the National Defence Academy in Pune, Admiral Tripathi said, “I would still refrain from calling Bangladesh anything other than a friend, because this could be a temporary and transitory moment. We’ll have to wait; elections have to happen, and then something else can happen.”
He recalled that his first official visit after assuming charge as Navy Chief was to Bangladesh, where he experienced “tremendous warmth, tremendous hospitality, and tremendous nostalgia about what India did in 1971.”
Calling himself an “eternal optimist,” Admiral Tripathi emphasised that India values its relationship with Bangladesh and hopes for a turnaround in the country’s political landscape after the upcoming elections.
