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India-Bangladesh Relation
India shares the longest international border with Bangladesh. The length of the India-Bangladesh Border is 4,096.7 Kms.
There also exists a maritime boundary between the two nations. Bangladesh also became a gateway into India’s North-Eastern states.
- Two Major Issues with regard to Bangladesh is
- lllegal migration from Bangladesh to India including smuggling and human trafficking
- Movement of several insurgents belonging to the North-Eastern insurgent groups and other Islamic terrorists who have used this region to inflict damages on India
The location of Bangladesh also empowers it to play a critical role in the affairs of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and the Bangladeshi Navy has a critical role to play in ensuring that sea lanes of communications are free of pirates and others who threaten maritime commerce.
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Historical Relation:
- Bangladesh was part of British India and became part of Pakistan after the Partition of 1947.
- The elections of 1971 resulted in the victory of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman of the Awami League. He was not permitted to take over and form the government by those powers in West Pakistan. When the people of East Pakistan protested, they were brutally killed and women were raped by the Pakistani Army soldiers
- India was forced to intervene in this stage and support the people of Bangladesh. Their dreams were realized on December 16, 1971 when over 93,000 soldiers of the Pakistan Army surrendered to the Indian Army in Bangladesh and finally Bangladesh became an independent nation.
India and Bangladesh Cooperation
Economic
- Bangladesh is India’s biggest trade partner in South Asia and India is the second biggest trade partner of Bangladesh. Bilateral trade between India and Bangladesh has grown steadily over the last decade and the exports of Bangladesh have tripled over the last decade to cross $1 bn in 2018-19. In the FY 2019-20, India’s exports to Bangladesh were $8.2 bn and imports were $1.26 bn.
- There is a trade imbalance in favour of India. To rectify this, Indian companies have invested in Bangladesh’s telecommunication, tourism, energy and other infrastructural sectors. For the year 2019, India has invested over USD 500 Million
- Considering the border regions and its socio-economic developments, the two nations have operationalized two Border Haats each in the states of Tripura and Meghalaya.
Connectivity Projects
- The connectivity programs of India in Bangladesh primarily have an objective of connecting the North-Eastern States.
- Following are some of the important projects and links:
- Akhaura- Agartala railway link project
- Dhaka-Kolkata- Agartala bus and train service (Maitree express)
- Kulaura- Shahbazpur railway link project
- Akhaura-Ashuganj road development project
- The two nations are also part of the Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal (BBIN) project. This project is expected to improve the connectivity and boost trade in the South Asian region by more than 60%. Both sides also signed MOU’s on the use of the Chhotogram and Mongla ports.
Energy Cooperation:
- India exports over 660 MW of electricity to Bangladesh every year
- India has constructed the Maitree Super Thermal Power Project which generates over 1320 MW of energy.
- With the assistance of the Russian, India is playing a crucial role in the construction of the Rooppur Nuclear Power plant which has a potential to generate 2400 MW.
- the two nations are presently working on the construction of the India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline between Siliguri- Parbatipur and this is expected to carry around 400,000 tons of diesel to Bangladesh annually.
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Defence Cooperation:
- High level exchanges in the year 2020 include the second edition of India-Bangladesh CORPAT ‘Bangosagar’ exercise on 03-05 October 2020, Regional Commanders meeting of Coast Guards on 19 October 2020.
- The Joint Exercises between the two Armies is called ‘Sampriti’ and the Bangladeshi navy also participates in the Milan Exercises conducted by the Indian Navy.
- India also provides services to Bangladesh through the SAARC Satellite. A MOU on Coastal surveillance systems is signed between two.
- Pakistan state sponsored terrorism is a cause for concern for both the nations. There is a scope for further cooperation in terms of de-radicalization of masses from both the nations.
- One major area where the two nations lack strong cooperation is in the field of disaster management. Cyclones in the Bay of Bengal affect both the nations.
Cultural Relations:
- Bengali poets Rabindranath Tagore and Kazi Nazirul Islam are popular in each other’s nations
- The ‘National Digital Knowledge Network’ of India has now been extended to Bangladesh.
Recent Developments in the Relations:
- Land Boundary Agreement: has been completed by both countries transferring enclaves in other country. This has resolved the major issue between the countries.
- Issue of Teesta River: River water disputes between India and Bangladesh is still pending. A Joint commission has been formed to resolve these issues.
- The people have supported their Government’s efforts in cracking down Islamic terrorism. Radicalization attempts by ISIS are posing a challenge to the nation.
Challenges in the Relation:
- China factor: China is financing over 25 energy projects, Bangladesh’s second nuclear power project and the Bangabandhu communication satellite. Many port development projects too are being executed. China has also trapped Bangladesh in its One Belt One Road project and China’s close presence to India raises certain security concerns.
- Problem of Rohingya refugees: Bangladesh hosts over 11 lakh Rohingya refugees. The crisis in Myanmar has triggered their exodus. India shares good relations with both Myanmar and Bangladesh and didn’t want to upset its ties with the former. Hence, apart from executing ‘Operation Insaniyat’ which is a humanitarian relief operation, India has not played an active role in terms of mitigating this crisis. This has led to considerable difference between the two nations.
- Security in the border regions: In recent times, the Border Security Force (BSF) has cracked down on smugglers and illegal migrants from Bangladesh and shot them down. This has triggered a public crisis in Bangladesh. Bangladesh Rifles, the force that guards the border on their side has shot down Indian troops belonging to the BSF without any provocation. Many analysts have attributed this recent religious indoctrination and the influence of the notorious ISI on the Bangladeshi forces.
- National Register of Citizens: It has left out 1.9 million people in Assam and they are being labelled as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. But Bangladesh is firm in its stance that no migrants travelled to Assam illegally during the 1971 war of independence and NRC may risk the relations.
- Teesta River Water dispute: There is a Joint Commission dealing with this subject. It is possible that this can wreak havoc in the relationship. It needs to be urgently addressed.
There is scope for India-Bangladesh ties to move to the next level, based on cooperation, coordination and consolidation. There is scope for India-Bangladesh ties to move to the next level, based on cooperation, coordination and consolidation.
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