Umroi, November 6 (IANS): Indian and Bangladeshi army personnel began a joint exercise in Meghalaya on Monday, an official statement said. A total of 14 officers from the Bangladesh Army and 20 officers from the Indian Army are taking part in the seventh edition of Exercise SAMPRITI, which is slated to go on till Saturday. The exercise began with the inauguration of the state-the-art Joint Training Node at Umroi Cantonment, about 25 km from Shillong, by Gajraj Corps Commander Lt Gen A.S. Bedi, in presence of Red Horns Division commander Maj. Gen. P.S. Behl. Exercise SAMPRITI is an India-Bangladesh Joint Training Exercise held alternately in India and Bangladesh every year with an aim to to build and promote positive relations between both the armies. "It also aims to enhance interoperability between the two nations and enrich from each other's experience while carrying out counter-insurgency/counter-terrorist operations, the menace from which both the nations are severely affected," said Defence spokesperson, Lt. Col. Suneet Newton. He said the Joint Training Exercise SAMPRITI 2017 will send a strong signal to the world that both India and Bangladesh understand the emerging threat of transnational terrorism and stand shoulder to shoulder united in countering this menace. The Indian Army has other joint training centres in Belgaum, Vairengte and Bakloh but Umroi is the Eastern Command's first independent and fully integrated Joint Training Node for foreign armies and is expected to host joint exercises with the Myanmar and Chinese army personnel scheduled in the latter part of next year.