The fifth biennial conference of Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS), a voluntary initiative to increase maritime cooperation among navies of the littoral states of the Indian Ocean region, will begin on January 10 in the capital.
President Abdul Hamid will inaugurate the four-day conference to be attended by representatives of 36 countries. Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral M Farid Habib invited the President to inaugurate the conference during a courtesy call on him at Bangabhaban here on Sunday.
During the meeting, M Farid Habib apprised the President that navy chiefs from 15 countries, including India, Malaysia and Australia, will attend the conference, President’s Press Secretary Joynal Abedin told BSS.
The Navy Chief also informed the President that Bangladesh has been elected chairman of the IONS for 2016-2018 term.
Farid Habib highlighted different aspects of the conference as well as various development activities the Bangladesh Navy is carrying out. President Hamid expressed satisfaction over the overall activities of the navy. Secretaries concerned to the President were present.
