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Both India and Bangladesh are very popular and important countries in South Asia. These two countries have numerous similarities as they share the same civilisation, culture, social and economic life. The Land Boundary Agreement between India and Bangladesh in 1974 is important. Moreover, the Land Boundary Agreement between India and Bangladesh in 2015 was historic and significant.
Despite these cultural and social similarities, several political and geographical conflicts and contentions are presented between these countries. It is important to understand how Kashmir is a bone of contention between India and this country.
Kashmir is the bone of contention between India and this country
Kashmir is the bone of contention between India and Pakistan
The two countries share boundaries over these areas, and China is always taking part in the dispute as a third party. As it is the South Asia continent’s contention, it will affect all SAARC members, including Bangladesh. Hence, Kashmir is a bone of contention between India and this country. India is the top powerful and largest country in South Asia, and above that Kashmir conflict makes this country scared that India can confiscate them for more power. From this perspective, we say Kashmir is a bone of contention between India and this country.
India and Bangladesh
The relations between the two countries have always been good and friendly because Bangladesh was not an independent country before 1971. It was a part of India. As the borders of both countries are adjacent to each other, several issues between them are to be resolved to maintain a good relationship between the countries.
Disputed Issues Between the Countries
Below are some of the main disputed issues between India and Bangladesh, which are significant to address for the peaceful living of the citizens of both countries.
Water Dispute
River water is the major dispute area between these two nations. Ganga, Farakka, and Teesta river water issues are widely known as a bone of contention between India and Bangladesh. However, both the countries have successfully agreed to share Ganga’s water. The construction of the Farakka barrage has been another disputed issue in water contentions. India wanted to make the Farakka barrage increase the lean period flow of the Bhagirathi-Hooghly so that they could increase the water depth at Kolkata port. Simultaneously, the Bangladesh government realises that reduction in water flow due to Farakka Barrage can badly affect agriculture, industry, and ecology.
Land Boundary Disputes
The land boundary issue has been a cause of contention between India and Bangladesh. The land border of India and Bangladesh is the fifth-longest land border in the world. They share 4096 Kilometres long international borders. Many illegal activities occur at this border. Many Bangladesh citizens cross the border without permission to India in search of a good living. This illegal immigration of people and things from one country to another causes many difficulties and problems in the country’s development. The Land Boundary Agreement between India and Bangladesh in 1974 was signed by two great statesmen, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur and Smt. Indira Gandhi for resolving all the Land boundary issues between the countries; however, this Land Boundary Agreement between India and Bangladesh in 1974 has not been taken seriously and was ignored by both governments, which led to the further conflict in land boundary contentions. Again after 41 years, the Land Boundary Agreement between India and Bangladesh 2015 was signed by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bangladeshi prime minister Sheikh Hasina during the Indian Prime minister’s visit to Bangladesh to resolve all the land boundary disputes and to define the terms of operation of the land boundary. This Land Boundary Agreement between India and Bangladesh 2015 settles all the major land boundary contentions.
Illegal immigration of citizens, drugs, medicine, and weapons
The unauthorised or illegal immigration of people, drugs, and weapons is one of the top bone of contention between these two nations. Since 1971, when Bangladesh became an independent country, millions of Bangladesh’s citizens immigrated to India without authorisation or legal process. Many illegal Bangladeshi immigrants are currently living in India. These illegal immigrants are one of the top contention issues between India and Bangladesh.
Conclusion
Water disputes, land boundary disputes, and illegal immigration issues are the main contention areas that cause immense problems. It is important to address and resolve these disputes as soon as possible so that both countries can live happily, be friendly, and maintain a good relationship.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Ireland on September 23, 2015. It was the second time an Indian Prime Minister had visited Ireland. The first being Jawaharlal Nehru’s visit in 1956. Ireland is an island nation located in Northwestern Europe and surrounded by the North Atlantic Ocean.
The Prime Minister of Ireland, Enda Kenny, had hosted PM Modi during his visit. The PM was attended by other dignitaries such as the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Charles Flanagan, and Ireland’s Ambassador to India, Feilim McLaughlin. The main aim of the visit was to create stronger ties and improve trade and cultural relations. Described below is the impact of the PM’s Ireland visit.
Impact on trade and commerce
India and Ireland have strong bilateral trade and business relations. Before the PM’s visit, trades with Ireland were valued at €650 million in business in 2014. This included exports worth €248m and imports worth €402 million.
The indigenous exports increased from €32 million in 2012 to €55 million in 2014. In 2019, the total bilateral trade was around €1.2 billion. The exports and the imports have also increased to €636 million and €480 million respectively. Currently, the total trade between India and Ireland is valued at €4.2 billion. This resulted from improved bilateral ties between the two nations, owing to Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Ireland.
Indian Companies in Ireland
Many Indian companies carry out trade and commerce in Ireland. They provide services to Irish markets and consumers across various industries. Pharmaceutical giants such as Reliance Genemedix and Amneal Pharmaceuticals operate in Ireland. Major IT companies such as Wipro, Infosys, TCS, and HCL also have a strong presence in the country. The trade relations were bolstered after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Ireland.
Other companies like Crompton Greaves, Deepak Fasteners, Jain irrigation systems, and Shapoorji Pallonji provide consumer goods and services. Likewise, many Irish companies conduct their business in the Indian market. These companies include pharmaceutical and nutrition players like ICON and Glanbia, IT firms like Globoforce and other companies like Keventer, CRH Taxback Group, and Connolly Red Mills.
Impact on Education
Ireland has been a coveted destination for higher education for Indian students. Over 5000 Indian students have enrolled for higher studies in various institutions in Ireland. The students are admitted to engineering, technology, medicine and management colleges. More than 30 research agreements have been signed between the two nations that allow institutes in both countries to collaborate.
Many reputed institutes like Trinity College, Dublin, and Thapar University, Patiala, have signed MOUs for engineering and science disciplines programmes. Thus, Ireland is an essential collaborator in graduate and doctoral research. This collaboration is also considered an impact of the PM’s Ireland visit.
Indian Community in Ireland
Ireland is diplomatically significant for India also due to the large number of Indian citizens residing there. The Indian origin population is approximately 45,000 people, of whom 18,500 are Non-Resident Indians (NRI), and others are Persons of Indian Origin (PIO). The majority of the residents are working professionals employed in engineering, healthcare and management positions.
It has helped in establishing many policies for the Indian origin population. Two such policies in practice are wearing hijab as a part of the police uniform and the non-requirement of obtaining an additional work permit for the spouse or the partner of Critical Skill Employment Permit holders.
Cultural Impact
As a result of a large population of Indian origin citizens in Ireland and the relationship between the two nations, Ireland promotes Indian culture in various forms. One such example is the celebration of Diwali in Ireland since 2008. The event is organised every year in collaboration with Irish and Indian committees.
Further, an annual contemporary film festival is also a part of the celebration of Indian culture. The promotion of such events indicates the importance of cultural exchange between the two nations. The Irish communities also take a keen interest in conventional practices such as cultivating and consuming Indian herbs and spices. This connects the agricultural practices between the two nations. The cultural ties between the countries were strong, and Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Ireland helped strengthen them further.
Another significant practice is the celebration of International Yoga Day in Ireland. The Irish communities have accepted Yoga as a form of a healthy lifestyle. The practice is similar to the Indian tradition.
Tourism
India attracts around 44,000 Irish tourists every year. Indian tourists too visit Ireland in similar numbers. This was facilitated by the introduction of the common British-Irish visa scheme. This scheme allows the tourists to visit the U.K. and Ireland under one visa, rather than applying for two separate visas. It is valid for short stays. India also extended its Electronic Tourist Visa facility to Ireland to digitally facilitate visa approval and generation. The impact of the PM’s Ireland visit was such that it has also helped establish the tourism sector in both countries.
Conclusion
The diplomatic ties between Ireland and India have been impacted positively after Prime Minister Modi visited Ireland in 2015. It was an essential step toward strengthening the bilateral relationship between these two nations. India and Ireland have been important to each other since the 1900s.
In 2010 and 2017, two honorary consulates were established in Chennai and Kolkata. Later in 2019, a formal and fully functional consulate general in Mumbai. Ireland and India have also shown their allegiance to fighting terrorism after the Pulwama attack. India has also hosted several Irish dignitaries on various occasions. These visits were directed toward engagement in business, education, health and tourism.
Further, many agreements were signed to provide opportunities for employment to people of both countries. Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Ireland helped revive relatively stagnant relations between these two nations. Several cultural and historically similar instances bind these two nations. From Yeats and Tagore to cricket and Diwali, the cultural semblance between these two nations has helped create a strong tie between them.
