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The bilateral relations between the People’s Republic of Bangladesh and the Republic of India, commonly known as Bangladeshi-Indian relations or Indo-Bangladesh relations are the bilateral relations between the two South Asian neighbours. With India’s recognition of an independent Bangladesh in 1971, diplomatic relations between the two countries formally began (which was formerly known as East Pakistan).
Bangladesh–India relations:
Although some problems remain unresolved, the two countries have been described as having a special relationship. On June 6, 2015, a historic land boundary deal was signed, resolving decades of border disputes, while negotiations over transboundary river water sharing are still underway. Due to the Indian government’s perceived anti-Muslim and anti-Bangladeshi activities, such as India’s interference in Bangladeshi politics, killings of Bangladeshis by Indian BSF, the Citizenship Amendment Act, the rise of Hindutva in India, and India’s reluctance in resolving water disputes in common rivers with Bangladesh, anti-India sentiments have risen among Bangladesh’s citizens in recent years. In response to India’s Citizenship Amendment Bill, numerous Bangladeshi ministers postponed their planned state visits to India in 2019.
At least 14 people were killed in Bangladesh in 2021 during major protests over Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit.
History:
Bangladesh and India commemorate Friendship Day on December 6th, marking India’s recognition of Bangladesh and the two countries’ enduring friendship. India has civilizational, cultural, social, and economic ties with Bangladesh. A shared history and tradition, language and cultural ties, and a passion for music, literature, and the arts are just some of the things that bring the two countries together.
In addition, in 1905 and 1911, Rabindranath Tagore, a Bengali-Indian polymath, composed the national anthems of both Bangladesh and India. During the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971, the two countries were firm allies. Relations deteriorated from the mid-1970s onwards as Bangladesh built deeper relationships with Islamic countries, joined the Organization of the Islamic Conference, and placed a greater emphasis on Islamic identity over the country’s ethnolinguistic heritage. In the 1980s, the two countries formed different Cold War alliances, significantly chilling bilateral relations. They created more bilateral contact and commerce with the start of economic liberalisation in South Asia.
Bangladesh–India border:
The Bangladesh–India border, also known as the International Border (IB), is an international border that runs between Bangladesh and India and divides the country into eight divisions.
Bangladesh and India share a 4,096-kilometer (2,545-mile) international border, which includes 262 kilometres (163 miles) in Assam, 856 kilometres (532 miles) in Tripura, 318 kilometres (198 miles) in Mizoram, 443 kilometres (275 miles) in Meghalaya, and 2,217 kilometres (1,378 miles) in West Bengal.
Along the border are the Bangladeshi divisions of Mymensingh, Khulna, Rajshahi, Rangpur, Sylhet, and Chittagong. The border between the two states is marked by a number of pillars. On both sides, little delimited sections of the boundary are gated.
Issues faced at the Border:
Smuggling of livestock, food, medicines, and medications from India to Bangladesh takes place over the border. Illegal Bangladeshi immigrants also cross the border into India. The Indian border patrols have implemented a controversial shoot-on-sight policy in response to a huge number of illegal immigrants entering Bangladesh into India. Following reports of violence between illegal migrants and the Indian military, this strategy was implemented. Border confrontations have also occurred on occasion, most recently in 2001, between the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) and the Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB).
Human Rights Watch (HRW) published an 81-page study in 2010 that detailed a number of BSF violations. Interviews with abuse victims, witnesses, members of the BSF, and its Bangladeshi equivalent, the BGB, were used to create the report.
The Bangladeshi government has accused the BSF of incursions into Bangladeshi territory and indiscriminate shooting of people along the India–Bangladesh border on numerous occasions. During a press briefing in August 2008, Indian BSF officials revealed that during the previous six months, they had killed 59 illegals (34 Bangladeshis, 21 Indians, and the rest unidentifiable).
Conclusion:
India has a land border of 15,106.7 kilometres and a coastline of 7,516.6 kilometres, including island territories. India shares geographical borders with six sovereign countries, one of which is Bangladesh. Bangladesh has the longest border at 4096.70 kilometres (2,545-miles). It also has the world’s fifth-longest land border. Assam, West Bengal, Mizoram, Meghalaya, and Tripura are Indian states that share borders with Bangladesh.
