India Bangladesh Relations
Bangladesh-India relations:
After Bangladesh gained its independence in December 1971, India was one of the first nations to recognise it and establish diplomatic ties with it.
Financial Relations:
- India’s largest trading partner in South Asia is Bangladesh, and Bangladesh’s largest trading partner in India.
- India exported $8.2 billion to Bangladesh in the FY 2019–20 while importing $1.26 billion.
Connectivity:
- Together, the two nations reopened the railway line connecting Chilahati and Haldibari, India (Bangladesh).
- a decision was made to swiftly sign the Enabling MoU in order to operationalize the Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal (BBIN) initiative Motor Vehicles Agreement as soon as possible.
- Recently, the Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade (PIWTT) second addendum was signed.
- The bus service from Kolkata to Dhaka and Agartala debuted in 2015. This resulted in a 500 km reduction in the 1,650 km distance between Kolkata and Agartala.
Coordination regarding Rivers:
- 54 rivers connect Bangladesh and India.
- Since June 1972, a bilateral Joint Rivers Commission (JRC) has worked to preserve communication between the two nations and to optimise advantages from shared river systems.
Defense collaboration:
- Border management: India and Bangladesh have a 7 km-long land border, making it the country’s longest land border with a neighbour.
- Following the exchange of ratification documents in June 2015, the India-Bangladesh Land Boundary Agreement (LBA) entered into force.
- Various joint military drills involving the two nations’ armed forces, including Exercise Sampriti and Exercise Milan
Medical travel:
- More than 35% of foreign patients in India’s hospitals are from Bangladesh.
- Over 50% of India’s medical tourism income comes from just Bangladesh.
Working together on multilateral platforms:
- Members of important regional organisations including the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation and the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) (BIMSTEC).
- Collaboration to address the COVID-19 pandemic – Bangladesh’s participation in the SAARC leaders’ video conference in March 2020 and the establishment of the SAARC Emergency Response Fund to mitigate the effects of the global pandemic in the South Asian region. Solidarity at international fora like the UNSC, working together to achieve the SDGs.
New developments:
- To strengthen their relationship, India and Bangladesh recently signed seven agreements and launched three projects.
- the usage of Bangladesh’s Chattogram and Mongla ports to transport products to and from India, especially from Northeastern India.
- Use of the Feni River in Bangladesh as a source of drinking water in Tripura.
Challenge
The water dispute in the Teesta River:
- According to the 2011 interim agreement, India and Bangladesh will each receive around 42.5 percent and 37.5% of the Teesta river’s water.
- However, the state of West Bengal rejects this requirement and has never signed the agreement, therefore tension in this matter persists.
The issue of undocumented immigrants:
- Concerns have previously been voiced by Bangladesh regarding the implementation of the National Register of Nationals (NRC) in Assam, a project designed to identify lawful Indian citizens residing in Assam and expel unauthorised Bangladeshis.
The China Factor:
- India has not joined the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), although Bangladesh is a participating member.
- Another significant user of Chinese military equipment, including submarines, is Bangladesh.
Other problems:
- India is also concerned about armed Dacoity in border districts, bogus money transfers, and cattle smuggling.
- Relationships between India and Bangladesh are additionally hampered by the trafficking of illegal immigrants, their involvement in terrorism, and prostitution in India.
- In addition, Bangladesh is opposed to India’s plans to build the Tapaimukh Dam on the Barak River in Manipur and to interconnect the rivers.
Moving ahead:
- The best approach to improve relations between India and Bangladesh is to swiftly resolve river water problems like the Teesta.
- combining efforts to address border challenges such cattle smuggling, illegal trade, and trafficking.
- regional organisations like SAARC, BIMSTEC, etc. being strengthened and emphasising the Neighbourhood First policy
- For the growth of the North East region, exploration of the Indo-Pacific region, and improved connectivity to South Asian nations, good relations between India and Bangladesh are crucial.
