New Delhi, July 21 -- BEIJING - Sixty-three teachers from Bangladesh's army-run schools have been selected for Mandarin training in two batches, the first tangible institutional outcome of a Memorandum of Understanding signed during Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's state visit to Beijing last month that formally recognized Chinese as Bangladesh's third language.

The selection, 33 teachers in the first wave and 30 in the second, marks the opening step in a decision to introduce Chinese language education across all schools operated by the Bangladesh Army. The program is expected to begin within days.

The MoU was signed during Rahman's June 26 summit with President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People, adding Chinese alongside Bengal...