Why India- Bangladesh relations are strained  in recent times?

• Proposed countrywide National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) passed last year.
• Bangladesh had cancelled visits by ministers, and Hasina has expressed reservations about CAA. She commented that the CAA and the proposed nationwide NRC are “internal matters” of India, the CAA move was “not necessary”.
• “China is the biggest trading partner of Bangladesh and is the foremost source of imports.
• In 2019, the trade between the two countries was $18 billion and the trade is heavily in favour of China.
• Recently, China declared zero duty on 97% of imports from Bangladesh. The concession flowed from China’s duty-free, quota-free programme for the Least Developed Countries.
• India has provided developmental assistance worth $10 billion, but China has promised around $30 billion worth of financial assistance to Bangladesh to overcome India assistance.
• Bangladesh’s strong defence ties with China makes the situation complicated.
• China is the biggest arms supplier to Bangladesh and it has been a legacy issue. Bangladesh forces are equipped with Chinese arms including tanks, missile launchers, fighter aircraft and several weapons systems.
• Recently, Bangladesh purchased two Ming class submarines from China.
• India and Bangladesh have cooperated on pandemic-related moves. Hasina contributed $1.5 million in India’s regional emergency fund for fighting Covid-19 and India provided medical aid to Bangladesh.
• The two countries have also cooperated in railways, with India giving 10 locomotives to Bangladesh.
• The first trial run for trans-shipment of Indian cargo through Bangladesh to Northeast states under a pact on the use of Chittagong and Mongla ports took place in July.
• However, in recent weeks, Pakistan PM call to Hasina raised eyebrows in Delhi. While Islamabad portrayed it as a conversation on Kashmir, Dhaka said it was about cooperating to deal with Covid-19.

Other Issues

• The two sides agreed that Implementation of projects should be done in a timely manner, and that greater attention is required to development projects in Bangladesh under the Indian Lines of Credit.
• Bangladesh sought return of the Tablighi Jamaat members impacted by the lockdown in India, and early release of the 25 Bangladeshi fishermen in custody in Assam. India assured Bangladesh that its nationals would be able to return soon.
• Bangladesh requested for urgent reopening of visa issuance from the Indian High Commission in Dhaka, particularly since many Bangladeshi patients need to visit India.
• India was also requested to reopen travel through Benapole-Petrapole land port, which has been halted by the West Bengal government in the wake of the pandemic.
• Bangladesh told that it is ready to collaborate in the development of a Covid-19 vaccine, including its trial, and looks forward to early, affordable availability of the vaccine when ready.

When India- Bangladesh marked their 50^th anniversary of diplomatic relations ?

• India and Bangladesh marked their 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2021.
• On Indian PM’s visit to Bangladesh in March 2021, the following MoUs were signed:
• MoU on Cooperation in the Field of Disaster Management, Resilience and Mitigation;
• MoU between Bangladesh National Cadet Corps (BNCC) and National Cadet Corps of India (INCC)
• MoU on Establishment of a Framework of Cooperation in the Area of Trade Remedial Measures between Bangladesh and India;
• Tripartite MoU on Supply of ICT Equipment, Courseware & Reference Books and Training for Bangladesh-Bharat Digital Service and Employment Training (BDSET) Centre;
• Tripartite MoU for Establishment of Sports Facilities at Rajshahi College Field and Surrounding Areas.
• Both Indian and Bangladesh PMs have inaugurated/unveiled or announced the following:
• Release of India–Bangladesh Friendship Stamps – to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic ties
• A foundation stone for a memorial has been laid at Ashuganj, Brahmanbaria – It is done to honour the Martyrs of the Indian Armed Forces who sacrificed their lives during the Liberation War of 1971.
• Rooppur Power Evacuation Project foundation stone has been laid – It covers five packages:
• Amin Bazar – Kaliakoir
• Rooppur – Dhaka
• Rooppur – Gopalganj
• Rooppur – Dhamrai
• Rooppur – Bogra

Three borders haats have been inaugurated:

• Nalikata (India) – Saydabad (Bangladesh)
• Ryngku (India) – Bagan Bari (Bangladesh)
• Bholagunj (India) – Bholagunj (Bangladesh)
• A passenger train service called ‘Mitali Express’ has been inaugurated. It covers Dhaka-New Jalpaiguri-Dhaka route through Chilahati-Haldibari rail link.
• The two sides announced to link the historic road between Mujibnagar and Nadia. It will be called Shadhinota Shorok.

India- Bangladesh Summit 2020
Health Sector:

• On the account of the COVID-19 pandemic, India assured Bangladesh to make available vaccines for the country as and when produced in India, signifying India’s Neighbourhood First Policy.
• Collaboration in therapeutics and partnership has been proposed by India for COVID-19 vaccine production.
• India took an initiative to conduct capacity building courses for medical professionals in the Bangla language.

Cultural Sector:

• India organized events on ‘Mujib Borsho’ which is the birth centenary year of Bangladesh’s founder president Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
• A commemorative postal stamp was jointly unveiled to mark Mujib Borsho.
• Earlier in September 2020, Bangladesh had issued a stamp in honour of Mahatma Gandhi on the occasion of Gandhiji’s 150th birth anniversary celebrations.
• Indian Director Shyam Benegal to commence the filming of a biopic on Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
• A proposal from Bangladesh has been initiated to name the historic road from Mujib Nagar to Nodia on the Bangladesh-India border as ‘Shadhinota Shorok.’ The historic significance of the road trails back to Bangladesh’s Liberation War.

Border Management and Security Cooperation

• Agreement on the conversion of  International Boundary along Kuhsiyara river into a fixed boundary.
• Agreement on the facilitation of the border fencing completion at all pending sectors across the international border between India and Bangladesh.
• Emphasis was laid on the full implementation of the ongoing Coordinated Border Management Plan.
• MoU in the area of disaster management cooperation is yet to be concluded.
• India has been requested to early implement removing the remaining restrictions on entry/ exit from land ports in India for Bangladeshis travelling on valid documents in a phased manner.

Trade

• India has given access to Duty-Free and Quota Free Bangladeshi exports to India under the South Asian Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA) since 2011.
• Both sides discussed India’s export-import policy that hampers Bangladesh’s domestic markets as export of essential commodities to Bangladesh hampers its domestic market.
• A joint study on the prospects of entering into a bilateral Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) is yet to be completed.
• In the wake of the first-ever meeting of the India-Bangladesh Textile Industry Forum that was held in 2020, an MOU between the Ministry of Textiles (India) and Ministry of Textiles and Jute (Bangladesh) is yet to be agreed upon.

Connectivity

• The newly restored railway link between Haldibari (India) and Chilahati (Bangladesh) was jointly inaugurated by both nations. The train facilities to open with the improvement in COVID-19 situation.
• India and Bangladesh welcomed the following initiatives:
• The signing of the second addendum to the Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade (PIWTT).
• Trial run of trans-shipment of Indian goods from Kolkata to Agartala via Chattogram.
• Operationalization of Sonamura-Daudkandi Protocol route under the PIWTT.
• Bangladesh Bhutan India Nepal (BBIN) Motor Vehicles Agreement decided to be operationalised with the early MOUs between India, Nepal and Bangladesh. Bhutan to be given a later date to join.
• Bangladesh showed interest in joining India Myanmar Thailand trilateral highway project as an aid to enhance connectivity between South and South-East Asia regions.
• India also requested to allow connectivity from West Bengal to Meghalaya through Bangladesh.
• To meet the travel needs amid the COVID-19 situation, the two nations had earlier initiated a temporary Air Travel Bubble.

Water Resources, Power and Energy

• An interim agreement for sharing the Teesta Water was discussed where Bangladesh reiterated the need for an early signing of the same.
• Interim Agreement on sharing of waters of six joint rivers, namely, Manu, Muhuri, Khowai, Gumti, Dharla and Dudhkumar was also discussed.
• Kushiyara River is also a point of discussion where an MoU for monitoring the withdrawal of water from it is yet to be signed.

Where India- Bangladesh share Bilateral relations?

• There are 54 common rivers between India and Bangladesh.
• India and Bangladesh signed the Ganga Waters Treaty on 12th December 1996 (For 30 years.)
• Both the nations established the Joint River Commission (JRC) that came into force in 1972. It works for the common interests and sharing of water resources, irrigation, floods and cyclones control.
• As per the data published by the Ministry of External Affairs, India’s exports to Bangladesh in FY 2018-19 stood at US$ 9.21 bn and imports from Bangladesh during the same period were US$1.04 bn.

 Areas of Cooperation

Defence Cooperation:

• Various Joint exercises of Army (Exercise Sampriti) and Navy (Exercise Milan) take place between the two countries.
• Border Management: India and Bangladesh share 4096.7 km. of border, which is the longest land boundary that India shares with any of its neighbours.
• The India-Bangladesh Land Boundary Agreement (LBA) came into force following the exchange of instruments of ratification in June 2015.

Cooperation over Rivers:

• India and Bangladesh share 54 common rivers. A bilateral Joint Rivers Commission (JRC) has been working since June 1972 to maintain liaison between the two countries to maximize benefits from common river systems.

Economic Relations:

• Bangladesh is India’s biggest trade partner in South Asia. India’s exports to Bangladesh for financial year 2018-19 (April-March) stood at US 9.21 billion USD and imports from Bangladesh for the same period stood at US 1.22 Billion USD.
• Bangladesh has appreciated the Duty-Free and Quota Free access given to Bangladeshi exports to India under South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) since 2011.

Cooperation in Connectivity:

• Both countries jointly inaugurated the newly restored railway link between Haldibari (India) and Chilahati (Bangladesh).
• Welcomed the signing of the second addendum to the Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade (PIWTT).
• Agreed to an early operationalization of the Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal (BBIN) initiative Motor Vehicles Agreement through the expeditious signing of the Enabling MoU for Bangladesh, India and Nepal to commence the movement of goods and passengers, with provision for Bhutan to join at a later date

Cooperation in Power Sector:

• This has become one of the hallmarks of India- Bangladesh relations. Bangladesh is currently importing 1160 MW of power from India.

Partnership on Multilateral forums:

• India thanked Bangladesh for supporting India in its election to the United Nations Security Council.
• Both countries agreed to continue working together towards achieving early reforms of the UN Security Council, combating climate change, attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and protection of the rights of migrants.
• Highlighted that regional organisations such as the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) have an important role to play.
• Bangladesh thanked India for convening the SAARC leaders Video Conference in March 2020 and for creation of the SAARC Emergency Response Fund to counter effects of the global pandemic in the South Asian region.
• Bangladesh will assume chairmanship of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) in 2021 and requested the support of India for working towards greater maritime safety and security.

Recent Development:

• Recently, India and Bangladesh signed seven agreements and also inaugurated three projects to deepen their partnership.
• The use of the Chattogram and Mongla ports in Bangladesh for movement of goods to and from India, particularly from Northeastern India.
• Use of Bangladesh’s Feni river for drinking water supply in Tripura.

Further areas of Cooperation:

• The two countries need to focus on priority areas, such as investments, security connectivity development, cross border energy cooperation, blue economy, cultural economy, environment and disaster management etc.
• Resolve the refugees (Rohingyas) crisis.

Disputes

• There should be efforts to resolve pending issues concerning sharing of waters, resolving continental shelf issues in the Bay of Bengal, bringing down border incidents to zero, and managing the media.
• Bangladesh has already raised concerns over roll out of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam, an exercise carried out to identify genuine Indian citizens living in Assam and weed out illegal Bangladeshis.
• Currently, Bangladesh is an active partner of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) that Delhi has not signed up to.
• In the security sector, Bangladesh is also a major recipient of Chinese military inventory, including submarines.

Who is the biggest trading partner of India in South Asia?

• 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 FY 2019-20, India’s exports to Bangladesh were $8.2 bn and imports were $1.26 bn.
• Meetings of various institutional mechanisms to promote bilateral trade including Secretary-level meetings of Commerce and shipping ministries, LCS/ICP infrastructure and establishment of Indian Economic Zone etc.
• To promotes cooperation on bilateral trade, an India-Bangladesh CEO’s Forum was launched in December 2020 to provide policy level inputs in various areas of trade and investment and also to facilitate exchanges among the business communities of both the countries.
• The first meeting of the India-Bangladesh Textile Industry Forum was held in February 2020 to enhance linkages and collaboration in the textile sector.

Development Partnership:

• Bangladesh is the biggest development partner of India today.
• India has extended 3 Lines of Credits (LOC) to Bangladesh in the last 8 years amounting to US$ 8 billion for the development of infrastructure in various sectors including roads, railways, shipping and ports.
• In addition to LOCs, the Government of India has also been providing grant assistance to Bangladesh for various infrastructure projects including the construction of the Akhaura-Agartala rail link, the dredging of inland waterways in Bangladesh and the construction of the India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline.
• High Impact Community Development Projects (HICDPs) constitute an active pillar of India’s development assistance.
• The Government of India has funded 68 HICDPs including the construction of student hostels, academic buildings, skill development and training institutes, cultural centres, orphanages etc. in Bangladesh and another 16 HICDPs are being implemented.

Capacity Building and Human Resource Development:

• Human resource development is a key component of India’s development cooperation efforts in Bangladesh through its several ongoing training programs and scholarships.
• The Government of India has been training 1800 Bangladesh Civil Service officials from 2019 at National Centre for Good Governance (NCGG), Mussoorie.

Cultural Cooperation:

• The year 2021 marked the historic India-Bangladesh relations as both countries commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the Liberation War and the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Bangladesh.
• The Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre (IGCC) in Dhaka plays an important role in the celebration of common cultural links between the two countries.
• Its training programs including Yoga, Kathak, Manipuri dance, Hindi language, Hindustani classical music and the cultural programs of renowned artists of India and Bangladesh contribute to the promotion of people-to-people contacts.

How has India’s relationship with Bangladesh played out over the years?

• The friendship between India and Bangladesh is historic, evolving over the last 50 years.
• India’s political, diplomatic, military and humanitarian support during Bangladesh’s Liberation War played an important role towards Bangladesh’s independence.
• Post-Independence, the India-Bangladesh relationship has oscillated as Bangladesh passed through different regimes.
• The relationship remained cordial until the assassination of Bangladesh’s founding President Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in August 15, 1975, followed by a period of military rule and the rise of General Ziaur Rahman who became President and also assassinated in 1981.
• It thawed again between 1982-1991 when a military-led government by General H.M. Ershad ruled the country.
• In the last decade, India-Bangladesh relations have warmed up, entering a new era of cooperation, and moving beyond historical and cultural ties to become more assimilated in the areas of trade, connectivity, energy, and defence.
• Both the governments are undertaking various measures to restore the pre-1965 rail links and other connectivity links that existed between India and Bangladesh.
• The two Prime Ministers jointly inaugurated the newly restored railway link between Chilahati (Bangladesh) and Haldibari (India) on 17 December 2020.
• To enhance people to people contact, the frequency of two passenger trains, i.e., Maitree Express and Bandhan Express was increased from 4 days a week to 5 days a week and from one day a week to two days a week respectively from February 2020.
• Both countries also started using side-door containers and parcel trains to maintain uninterrupted supply chains during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
• The Government of India handed over 10 broad gauge diesel locomotives as part of grant assistance to Bangladesh Railways in a virtual event joined by External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar and Railways Minister Piyush Goyal and their Bangladeshi counterparts Dr A K Abdul Momen and Md Nurul Islam Sujon on 27 July 2020.
• During the visit of PM Sheikh Hasina to New Delhi in October 2019, both the governments decided to commence Dhaka-Siliguri-Gangtok-Dhaka and Dhaka-Siliguri-Darjeeling-Dhaka bus service to enhance people to people contacts between both the countries and the trail run of Dhaka-Siliguri-Gangtok-Dhaka was also held in December 2019.
• Feni Bridge (Maitree Setu) connecting LCS Sub room (Tripura) and LCS Ramgarh (Bangladesh) has been jointly inaugurated on a virtual platform by both the Prime Ministers on 09 March 2021.

Irritants in Relationship

• China Factor - Military Relations between India’s largest neighbour and the neighbour sharing largest boundary with India, viz. China and Bangladesh have not been perceived well in India.
• Trade Ties: China is the biggest trade partner of Bangladesh, with India having to be content with the second place.
• Belt and Road Initiative: Bangladesh is a part of Belt and Road Initiative (see inset) by China, under which China has invested approx. $24 bn in Bangladesh. India has time and again opposed the project, both due to the sovereignty concerns as well as its potential to cause debt crisis in the member countries. In fact, in what seems like a quid pro quo, China has also allowed access to a range of Bangladeshi products in its domestic market, which will not be subject to any duty.
• String of Pearls: Many experts have pointed to the circling of India by the Chinese by setting up military posts and ports in the Indian ocean. The Chinese ports in the Indian Ocean Region like Hambantota, Gwadar, Kyakpyu etc. have been a cause of concern for India, especially in the recent context of the Galwan valley incident and the border standoff between the armies of India and China. In this context, use of Bangladesh’s Chittagong port by the Chinese is sure to raise anxiety levels in Indian strategic community.
• Radicalisation of vulnerable population: Of late, ISI from Pakistan has been trying to find a stronghold in Bangladesh to further its agenda of destabilising India. In its pursuit of radicalising innocent youth, Rohingyas can be an easy target for the ISI, because of their vulnerability. Similarly, even the local Jamaat-e-Islami activists have been approached by ISI, according to the media reports. India must be quick to neutralise this threat by providing humanitarian assistance to the Rohingya minority and making the Rohingyas aware of such attempts by the ISI.
• River Water Dispute: River water disputes have been a bone of contention between the two countries. For e.g. recently Teesta dispute was in the news. There are two major dimensions to the River disputes:
• Domestic Politics: The Indian state of West Bengal has involved itself in the Teesta water sharing, leading to delays in finalising the agreement.
• Geophysical constraints: Water sharing is a highly complex issue, in which multiple dimensions need to be taken into account. For e.g. changes in demography change the water requirement of a region as much as cropping patterns and climate change does. To illustrate the point, both sides on the Bengal border are major producers of rice, which is regarded as a water guzzler. Again, glacier melting floods parts of both the countries during non-lean season, while both sides also face water deficit in the lean season. Therefore, taking all factors into consideration is of utmost importance, before finalising the formula for water sharing.     

Way Forward

• Strengthening Military ties: There have been media reports indicating weapon sale from India to Bangladesh. India has offered its Brahmos missiles as well as naval ships from its robust shipbuilding industry to Bangladesh, apart from other weapons. This will enhance trust between the two countries and lend a strategic depth to the relations.
• Post-pandemic recovery: There is a need to understand that just as India does not like its huge deficit with China, Bangladesh is also worried about its trade-deficit with India. Therefore, we need to open our markets to the Bangladeshi goods and services and encourage investments in Bangladesh by Indian businesses. Also, this would be favourable to India also as it will result in future flow of surplus back to India, as Bangladesh improves its position as an exporter. We need to build upon the special trade relationship, considering Bangladesh is our top SAARC trade partner.
• Confidence-building Measures: India has been accommodative of the smaller countries in its neighbourhood in myriad ways. For e.g. as a part of medical diplomacy, India has promised COVID vaccine to the tune of 30 million doses to Bangladesh. At the same time, Bangladesh diplomats have gone on record to say that Bangladesh and India are one space with a border to manage. This projects the level of integration which is envisioned by the leadership between the two countries.
• Understanding changing conditions: Despite India’s benevolence, smaller countries in the region have perceived Indian attitude as big brotherly and complained of Indian interference in the domestic matters, although most of it is a part of India-bashing generated by political opportunism in the respective countries. However, it has to be understood that this is a natural response of a small country trying to balance its relations with the two big neighbours. Till the time Bangladesh respects India’s national security concerns, India should not have concerns about its growing ties with any country including China. For e.g. the recent cancellation of the visit of Chinese Defence Minister to Bangladesh demonstrates Bangladeshi resilience to Chinese demands which might not be looked favourably in India.
• Helping Bangladesh retain its edge: Textile industry is Bangladesh’s strength. However, it faces tough competition from countries like Vietnam. In such a situation, Indian tilt towards either of the country will be decisive as India’s huge domestic market will provide an edge for the exporting country. There is a requirement for India to balance its priorities and provide strategic support to the industry of a friendly country.
• Managing strategic divergence: Experts have pointed that with a weakened opposition, Sheikh Hasina government has become more authoritative and less open to dissent and criticism. Therefore, India must keep its options open in terms of keeping in touch with other elements of Bangladesh polity. This will also be critical to ensure a balance in Bangladesh’s tilt towards China.
• Playing to our strength: India needs to recognise that it cannot compete with China in providing cash assistance to the developing countries. However, if Indian foreign policy-makers are crafty enough, they can leverage Japan’s fiscal strength, to build a goodwill for India and its strategic partners. For e.g. Bangladesh has been reluctant to accept Chinese investments in the Sonadiya port. Yet it agreed to a soft loan from Japan to build the Matarbari deep seaport. This paves the way for navigating the future Indo-Chinese rivalry for influence in the Asia-Africa region.