Commonalities that are underlying India Bangladesh Relations are tradition, culture, language, and shared principles such as secularism, democracy etc. The connection has been enhanced in recent years, primarily through engagement in new and high-technology fields.

Brief History and Recent Developments

• India has been the first nation to recognize Bangladesh as an independent country, and diplomatic ties were established shortly after its independence in December 1971
• India Bangladesh Relations have reached a ‘golden period
• ‘ The signing of the ‘Land Boundary’ Agreement in 2015, which resolved the border dispute, cemented the friendship even further
• India sent the COVID-19 vaccine and other medical tools to Bangladesh to show reconciliation and progress in bilateral trade between India and Bangladesh

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Importance of Bangladesh to India

• In many respects, Bangladesh is crucial to India from a ‘geopolitical’ standpoint
• Taking Bangladesh’s relationship casually would be detrimental to India’s national interests
• Bangladesh has the longest land border with India, stretching for almost 4,096 kilometres
• Bangladesh shares borders with the Indian states of Assam, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Tripura, and West Bengal
• There is also a sea border between the two countries
• Bangladesh is working on several connection projects
• The country has also become an entry point for India’s north-eastern states
• These initiatives will aid India’s North-Eastern region’s socio-economic growth
• Bangladesh’s geographical location also plays an essential role in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR)
• The Bangladeshi Navy plays a pivotal role in ensuring that sea channels of communication remain free of pirates and other threats to the marine trade

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India and Border Issues with Bangladesh

The India Bangladesh Relations are rooted in tradition, culture, language, and mutual values such as secularism, democracy, and a plethora of other similarities. From 1947 to 1971, Bangladesh was a part of Pakistan. It was made up of British India’s partitioned areas of Bengal and Assam. The people of this region resented western Pakistan’s dominance and the imposition of the Urdu language. They began protests against the unfair treatment of Bengali culture and language in contemporary world politics. They also demanded equal representation in government and a fair share of political power. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman led the popular resistance to West Pakistani dominance.

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Challenges in India and Bangladesh Relations

The following are the irritants and challenges between the two nations:

• China Factor 

Over 25 energy projects, including Bangladesh’s second nuclear power plant and the Bangabandhu communication satellite, are being funded by China. Many port development projects are underway. China’s One Belt One Road initiative has also entrapped Bangladesh, and China’s proximity to India causes security worries.

• The problem of Rohingya refugees 

Bangladesh is home to around 11 million Rohingya Muslims. The Myanmar catastrophe has spurred their departure. India has cordial connections with Myanmar and Bangladesh and does not want to jeopardize such relationships. Apart from carrying out ‘Mission Insaniyat,’ a humanitarian aid operation, India has no direct involvement in resolving the conflict. As a result, there has been a significant divergence in bilateral ties with Bangladesh.

• Security in the Border Regions

The Border Security Force (BSF) has recently targeted and gunned down traffickers and illegal migrants from Bangladesh. In Bangladesh, this has sparked a public outcry and Bangladesh Rifles have shot down Indian service members belonging to the BSF without provocation. Several commentators have linked this current religious indoctrination to the influence of the infamous ISI on the Bangladeshi military.

• Teesta River Dispute

Teesta is a tributary of the Ganges and begins in Sikkim before making its way through Bengal and Bangladesh. India has a 55 percent share of the river’s water

• Bangladesh wants a more significant proportion than it already receives
• The river is Bangladesh’s fourth largest transboundary river
• In Bangladesh, the Teesta floodplain comprises 2,750 square kilometers for irrigation and fishing
• 83 percent of the river’s watershed – the land region where water accumulates – is in India, while 17 percent is in Bangladesh
• Another topic of conflict in the Teesta river dispute is hydropower
• On the river, there are at least 26 projects on the river, most of which are in Sikkim
• The Teesta river dispute has the potential to wreak havoc on the partnership

Conclusion 

There is a lot of room for India and Bangladesh to improve their bilateral relations. Cooperation, collaboration, and consolidation should be the foundations of the connection. Peace is the most important condition for progress. As a result, competent border management is required to provide a peaceful, secure, and crime-free border.

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