Bangladesh–India relations


and India are South Asian neighbours. Diplomatic Relations between the two countries was followed by the visit of Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on 19 March 1972, at Dhaka, where there she had signed the Indo-Bangladesh Treaty of Friendship, Co-operation and Peace Relations, popularly known as the 'Indira-Mujib Treaty of 1972, with then Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
The relations between the two countries have usually been friendly, although sometimes there are border disputes. The historic land boundary agreement was signed on 6 June 2015 which opened a new era in the relations and further stopped all irritants in ties. They are common members of SAARC, BIMSTEC, IORA and the Commonwealth. The two countries share many cultural ties. In particular, Bangladesh and the east Indian state of West Bengal are Bengali-speaking. Bangladesh has a High Commission in New Delhi with Deputy and Assistant High Commissions in Mumbai, Kolkata, Guwahati and Agartala. India has a High Commission in Dhaka with Assistant High Commissions in Khulna, Rajshahi and Chittagong.
In 1971, the Bangladesh Liberation War broke out between East Pakistan and West Pakistan; India intervened in December 1971 on behalf of East Pakistan and helped secure East Pakistan's independence from Pakistan as the country of Bangladesh. In a 2014 survey, 70% of Bangladeshis expressed a favorable opinion and perception of India. Since the visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Bangladesh in 2015 and round back visit of Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to India in 2017, the notable developments that have taken places include resolution of long-pending land and maritime boundaries asserting the issue of enclaves, conclusion of over ninety instruments comprising in the hi-tech areas, i.e., electronics, cyber-security, space, information technology, and civil nuclear energy and observed increase in bilateral trade from US$9 billion to US$10.46 billion in the Fiscal Year 2018–19, preceded by US$7 billion to US$9 billion in FY 2017–18, an increase of 28.5 percent.

History

India's links with Bangladesh are civilisational, cultural, social, and economic. There is much that unites the two countries – a shared history and common heritage, linguistic and cultural ties, passion for music, literature and the arts.
The two nations were strong allies during the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971. From the mid-1970s, however, relations worsened because Bangladesh developed closer ties with Islamic nations, participated in the Organization of the Islamic Conference, and increased emphasis on Islamic identity over the country's ethnolinguistic roots. The two countries developed different Cold War alliances in the 1980s, which further chilled bilateral relations. With the onset of economic liberalization in South Asia, they forged greater bilateral engagement and trade. The historic Ganges Water Sharing Treaty was concluded in 1996. India and Bangladesh are close strategic partners in counter-terrorism. They are also the largest trading partners in South Asia.

Areas of contention

  1. A major area of contention has been the construction and operation of the Farakka Barrage by India to increase water supply in the River Hooghly. Bangladesh insists that it does not receive a fair share of the Ganges waters during the drier seasons, and gets flooded during the monsoons when India releases excess waters. See also Sharing of Ganges Waters.
  2. There have also been disputes regarding the transfer of Teen Bigha Corridor to Bangladesh. Part of Bangladesh is surrounded by the Indian state of West Bengal. On 26 June 1992, India leased three bigha land to Bangladesh to connect this enclave with mainland Bangladesh. There was a dispute regarding the indefinite nature of the lease. The dispute was resolved by a mutual agreement between India and Bangladesh in 2011.
  3. Terrorist activities carried out by outfits based in both countries, like Banga Sena and Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami. Recently India and Bangladesh had agreed jointly to fight terrorism.
  4. Bangladesh has consistently denied India transit facility to the landlocked North Eastern Regions of India. Although India has a narrow land link to this North Eastern region, which is famously known as the Siliguri Corridor or "India's Chicken Neck", less than 27 kilometres wide, remained as the only bridge between the northeastern part of India and the rest of the country.
  5. Illegal Bangladeshi immigration into India. The border is porous and migrants are able to cross illegally, though sometimes only in return for financial or other incentives to border security personnel. Bangladeshi officials have denied the existence of Bangladeshis living in India and those illegal migrants found are described as having been trafficked. This has considerable repercussions for those involved, as they are stigmatized for having been involved in prostitution, whether or not this has actually been the case. Cross border migrants are also at far higher risk of HIV/AIDS infection.
  6. Continuous border killing of Bangladeshi people by Indian border guards, aiding illegal immigrants, helping in armed dacoity, fake money transfer and illegal drug trades by both Indian and Bangladeshi people are the major problems between Bangladesh and India.
  7. Both Bangladesh and India made claims over the same seawater at the Bay of Bengal before settlement of the issue.
  8. There was a minor glitch in their relation when former Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh accidentally mentioned that 25% of Bangladeshis are anti-Indian, during an informal press meet.

    Border killings of Bangladeshi civilians

Deaths of Bangladeshi citizens in the Indo-Bangladesh border became one of the embarrassments between the two nation's bilateral relations in recent years. The so-called ‘shoot-to-kill’ policy by India's Border Security Forces that according to Human Rights Watch killed nearly 1,000 Bangladeshis between 2001 and 2011 has remained at the core of the talks between Bangladeshi and Indian officials visiting each other.
Indian officials visiting Bangladesh including the Indian foreign ministers and BSF chiefs numerously vowed to stop BSF shootings, but Bangladeshi nationals, comprising mostly illicit border crossers, have continued to be shot dead by the Indian troops.
While anger grew in Bangladesh because of the continued BSF shootings and subsequent deaths, Indian officials argue that heightened security has followed the increasing flow of illegal migrations into India as well as continued misuse of the border by illicit traders. Indian officials, vowing to cut down the number of casualties at border, showed statistics that the number of Bangladeshi deaths was in a steady decline in recent years.
The Bangladeshi deaths caused by BSF shootings at the border became subject to a so-called cyber war between the hackers of the two countries that took the websites of BSF, National Informatics Centre and Trinamool Congress as victims. The Government of Bangladesh was found to comment on the issue condemning the cyber attacks on Indian websites.
Border police often shoots to kill any illegal immigrants crossing the border. Human Rights Watch estimates say 1,000 people were killed in the area between 2001 and 2011 by Indian border security force BSF.

Recent developments

In September 2011, the two countries signed a major accord on border demarcation to end the 4-decade old disputes over boundaries. This came to be known as the Tin Bigha corridor. India also granted 24-hour access to Bangladeshi citizens in the Tin Bigha Corridor. The agreement included exchange of adversely held enclaves, involving 51,000 people spread over 111 Indian enclaves in Bangladesh and 51 Bangladeshi enclaves in India. The total land involved is reportedly 7000 acres.
On 9 October 2011, Indian and Bangladeshi armies participated in Sampriti-II, a 14-day-long Joint military exercise at Sylhet to increase synergy between their forces.
In 2012, Bangladesh allowed India's Oil and Natural Gas Corporation to ferry heavy machinery, turbines and cargo through Ashuganj for Palatana Power project in southern Tripura.
From October 2013, India started exporting 500 megawatts of electricity a day to Bangladesh over a period of 35 years. A 125-kilometre Baharampur-Bheramara transmission line, 40 km of it in Bangladesh, connects the two substations. Bangladesh officials believe the export would greatly ease the national shortage once 500 MW flows into the national grid. The two country's Prime Ministers also unveiled the plaque of the 1,320-MW coal-fired Rampal power plant, a joint venture between the two countries. The link is being seen as a major milestone in strengthening the bilateral relationship and comes at a time when India is desperate to make up for its inability to deliver on two key pacts with Bangladesh: one on Teesta waters and the land boundary pact.
From November 2013, A Wagah Border-like ceremony is being organised at Petrapole - Benapole border checkpoint. The ceremony which includes parades, march-past and lowering of the national flag of both the countries is now a daily routine, at sundown, on the eastern border. The relations between the countries are definitely moving in positive direction.
Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj visited Bangladesh in her first official overseas trip in June, 2014. On 7 May 2015 the Indian Parliament, in the presence of Bangladeshi diplomats, unanimously passed the Land Boundary Agreement as its 100th Constitutional amendment, thereby resolving all 68-year old border disputes since the end of the British Raj. The bill was pending ratification since the 1974 Mujib-Indira accords.
In June 2014, during her first official overseas visit, Foreign Minister of India, Sushma Swaraj concluded various agreements to boost ties. They include:
During Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's state visit to Bangladesh during June 2015 as many as 22 agreements were signed by two sides. During the visit India extended a US$2 billion line of credit to Bangladesh & pledged US$5 billion worth of investments. As per the agreements, India's Reliance Power agreed to invest US$3 billion to set up a 3,000 MW LNG-based power plant. Adani Power will also be setting up a 1600 MW coal-fired power plant at a cost of US$1.5 billion. The two countries signed a total of 22 agreements including the ones on maritime safety co-operation and curbing human trafficking and fake Indian currency. Modi also announced a line of credit of $2 billion to Bangladesh.
At midnight on 31 July 2015, around 50,000 people became citizens of India or Bangladesh after living in limbo for decades. Ending a prolonged dispute, the two nations swapped 162 enclaves on the border region, allowing the people living there to stay or opt out to the other country. While 14,214 citizens of Bangladesh residing in 51 enclaves on the Indian side became Indians, a large number of people in the 111 Indian enclaves in Bangladesh preferred to stay with Bangladesh and just 979 opted to move to India. The total number of new Indian citizens will be 15,193.
In 2018, the leaders of both the countries inaugurated the 130 km long Bangladesh-India Friendship pipeline to supply 4 lakh metric tonne of diesel to Bangladesh. In September 2018, the Bangladesh cabinet approved the draft of a proposed agreement with India to allow it to use the Chittagong and Mongla sea ports for transporting goods to and from its land-locked northeastern states.

Defence relations

India and Bangladesh's Security Relations span since a long time, excepting at certain years following the change of the ruling party in Bangladesh changed the attitude of the relations. But, mostly it has inherited a deep legacy of establishing and training of the Mukti Bahini during the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971. Thus, since then a long relation has co-existed in this particular field of cooperation between the two countries.
During Sheikh Hasina's four-day visit to New Delhi in April 2017, Bangladesh and India signed two defence agreements, the first such agreements between India and any of its neighbors. Under the agreements, the militaries of the two countries will conduct joint exercises and training. India will help Bangladesh set up manufacturing and service centres for defence platforms that both countries possess with the aim of achieving self-sufficiency in defence manufacturing in Bangladesh, and will also provide the Bangladesh military with expert training, and technical and logistic support. India also extended its first ever defence-related line of credit to a neighboring country, by providing Bangladesh with $500 million to purchase defence equipment.
Also, the militaries of the two countries have played quite an extensive role in taking up common issues to enhance and conduct training programmes to deal with counter terrorism issues, natural disasters, ensure Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Reliefs. Very, recent in March 2019, Indian Army's current Chief of Staff, then as GOC-in-C of the Eastern Army Command, General M.M. Naravane visited to the Chief of Army Staff, of Bangladesh, General Aziz Ahmed to hold talks related to boosting of Intelligence sharing between the 2 countries along with developing other areas of defence cooperation. The visit has most importantly come up at the time, when Myanmar decided to take strong actions in order to act against the operating insurgent groups which were operating foiling up terrorist activities on both the sides of India and Myanmar, along with that had discussions on various options to enhance the conduction of Military exercises at a more rapid and strong scale. Also, in 2014 the Defence sectors of the 2 countries have come into a resolution for working towards solving the maritime disputes and have looked over to resolve their conflicts over land. The, Defence relation in between the 2 countries have grown to a manifold followed by an exchange of diplomatic visits by Bangladesh's the Chief of Army Staff, General Moeen Ahmed, in 2008. Still, there are continuous flow of reciprocal visits by the leaders of the Armed Forces, the Presidents, who are also the Supreme Commanders of the Armed Forces have exchanged visits. Former President of India, Pranab Mukherjee visited Dhaka in March 2013, where as the President of Bangladesh, Abdul Hamid visited New Delhi in December, 2014. However, during the visit made by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in 2017, to New Delhi, the two countries had signed a series of Memorandum of Understandings in areas of Defence cooperation, which focused on certain areas, such as;
  1. For developing a framework for defence cooperation.
  2. To initiate and enhance cooperation for comparative and joint initiatives of education in the area of Field Strategy and Study of Military Operations, between the Indian Defence Services Staff College and Dhaka's Defence Services and Staff College.
  3. Increasing the cooperation for field and strategic studies between India's Defence Staff College and Bangladesh's National Defence College.
  4. Extending a line of credit of worth US$500 Millions for conducing the purchase of Defence Equipment.
  5. Increasing cooperation between the Coast Guards of India and Bangladesh.
India's offer of a deal of about US$500 million credit to Bangladesh to purchase defence equipment for the Bangladesh Coast Guard to get guard patrol boats, has been taken into focus. But, the strategic objectives are quite obvious and a chain of companies have also shown their interests to supply their manufactured products, which has proved of India being a market for Bangladesh's Defence products. It has been found that purchasing of arms by Bangladesh from its neighboring countries can be a convenient option. Therefore, any discussion related to India and Bangladesh's Defence cooperation remains incomplete without considering the China Factor. As, China has been the largest supplier of arms to Bangladesh along with Russia, with Indian Security Analysts keeping on a long eye on the relationship and the recent purchase of two Submarines for the Bangladesh Navy from China has provoked India's concerns and ramifications.
Also, under the proposed bilateral defence agreement signed in between the nations, India is looking forward willing to expand its areas and cooperation with the Defence forces of the People's Republic of Bangladesh to set up a manufacturing services sector for the upcoming defence platforms for both the countries. India has made a promise looking forward to equip the Defence forces of Bangladesh and help them to meet their demands of expert training with assuring logistical and technical support, which would help Bangladesh attain self-efficiency in the defence manufacturing sector for the long run.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, that;
" India would not like to impose anything which Bangladesh may find not suitable to its requirement. The bilateral document under consideration is aimed at institutionalizing the existing mechanism and streamlining the ongoing cooperation between both the countries,” an official said, adding maritime security will be a key element in the partnership with the two countries facing similar challenges in the Bay of Bengal zone. A joint road-map for developing Blue Economy in Bay of Bengal is likely to be unveiled during Prime Minister Hasina’s visit".
Also, both Prime Ministers of India and Bangladesh, had welcomed their initiatives for developing a closer effort to strengthen Maritime Security Partnerships and also they appreciated the Finalization of an Memorandum of Understanding related to the establishment of a Coastal Surveillance Radar System in Bangladesh's Chittagong and Mongla Ports.

Border Security Management between the two countries

During the state visit by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to New Delhi in 2019, had a talk with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, where he appreciated the zero-tolerance policy of the Government of Bangladesh's resolute effort towards ensuring peace, security and stability in the entire region and also it was recognized by both the leaders, that terrorism yet remains as one of the major significant threads to the levels of peace and stability of both the countries and the regions. However, the Prime Ministers of the two nations had entrusted and reiterated their faith and strong commitment in order to eliminate in all its forms of manifestations and stressed of the fact of avoiding terror. Also, both the Prime Ministers had referred to the successful discussions between the Home Ministers of both Bangladesh and India during the visit made by the Home Minister of Bangladesh to India in August 2019, whereby he agreed for a closer cooperation to fight against extremist radical groups, terrorist organisations, smuggling of arms, drugs and fake currency and also organized crime as a shared priority.

Fight against Counter Terrorism

Fighting out counter terror operations is an important aspect that revolves around within the relations of India and Bangladesh. Since, both countries have been victims of terror attacks and still keeps on facing continuous security threats, where as India is a victim of Cross-border terrorism from terrorist groups. But these groups have made their way to India through considering Bangladesh as a transit point to infiltrate into India. Whereas, Bangladesh still keeps on suffering from the terrorist activities which are committed by indigenous organisation which possess some linkages with external groups. The veterans of the Afghan Jihad were responsible towards developing the Harkat-ul Jihad Bangladesh in 1990. The terrorist organization began to make a feeling of their presence since 2000s, still Bangladesh pursues a policy of zero-tolerance towards terrorism and has repeatedly taken strict counter-measures, including the execution of the top leaders of the Jamaat-ul Mujahideen Bangladesh, in 2007, which had been followed by week long or month long political turmoil and curfews in various parts of Bangladesh. Still, the terrorist groups have kept on managing to survive within its territory because of the cross-border network, especially in India. The Jamaat-ul Mujahideen Bangladesh's networks in India was unearthed following an accidental Bomb-Blast at the Khagraghar sub-division Burdwan District in the Indian State of West Bengal in 2014, popularly known as the Khagraghar Blast. This ultimately attracted its focus in a broader national and international aspect and also raised the need for enhancing the act of stronger cross-border cooperation. The spread of terrorism at the international level through organisations, such as the Al-Qaeda also demanded joint action and response of the two countries.
Still, to address the grave of these threats effectively, there are still needs for greater synergy, coordination and cooperation between the agencies, joint-training and exercises, inducing greater interaction and also developing a strong understanding among the two Armed forces of the two countries.

Joint Military Training Exercises

The Armies of both India and Bangladesh has been engaged in conducting Joint Military Exercises to enhance cooperation, exchange training procedures and taking experiences of different battle tactics and weapons usage. Also, these exercises are instances where Armies of both the countries share their trust and cooperation to develop peace and an understanding of harmony is developed.
The exercise is known as, "Sampriti", which is a Bengali word, which in English is known as "Harmony". The list of the different Sampriti Exercises are mentioned below.
ExerciseDateLocationUnits Involved
Sampriti I1-4 November 2010;
9 October 2011		1 - 4 November 2010 at Jorhat District, Assam, India
9 October 2011 Sylhet, Bangladesh		21st Para Battalion, Indian Army
Special Forces Unit, Bangladesh Army
Sampriti II22 October 2012Jalalabad Cantonment, Bangladesh
Sampriti V2015Binnaguri, West Bengal, India
Sampriti VI5-18 November 2016Bangabandhu Senanibas, Tangail, Dhaka, BangladeshCompany A- Mahar Regiment, Indian Army
Sampriti VII6-11 November 2017Counter Insurgency and Jungle Warfare School, Variengte, Mizoram, IndiaRed Horns Division, IV Corps, Indian Army
Sampriti IX3-16 February 2020Meghalaya, India20 Bihar Regiment, Indian Army
42nd Bangladesh Infantry Regiment, Bangladesh Army

Energy cooperation

India has recently introduced the concept of the Regional Power Trading System which will help various regions of the country in reducing the power deficit by transferring surplus power from another region. Under the Electricity Act 2003, the Indian companies could pool power in an exchange. A consumer would be free to buy it from anyone. This concept of power pool within India can also be enlarged to cover the neighbouring countries like Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal after the establishment of a sub-regional power pool and necessary inter-connections among these countries are put in place. This can ultimately form a regional power pool thereby generating a huge opportunity for power trading in the region.
India is also looking to export electricity from its north-eastern region with potential to generate some 58,971 MW to its eastern States through Bangladesh. Bangladesh hopes to have access to Nepal and Bhutan's power through India. Bangladesh has formally requested a ‘power corridor’ to access the Bhutanese and Nepalese markets. It has agreed to allow India to transfer hydroelectricity from Assam to Bihar through its territory. The proposed meeting would attempt to remove irritants in project-related areas. In 2016 deal between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was criticized. Bangladeshi critics accused the deal for setting a high price for the import of electricity, especially from Tripura. Equipment for the plant was sent through Bangladesh which waived most the transit fees.
Adani Power said on 8 November 2017 its arm Adani Power has inked long-term pact with Bangladesh Power Development Board to supply electricity from its upcoming 1,600 MW plant at Godda in Jharkhand.
Nuclear Energy Pacts:
India would set up nuclear reactors in Bangladesh and technical cooperation and sharing of information in the field of nuclear safety and radiation protection.

High level visits

visited India in 1982. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina visited India in 2010 to sign number of deals. Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh visited Dhaka in 2011 to sign number of deals. Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Bangladesh which was historic as land boundary agreement was solved in 2015.

Development cooperation

India is very active in development activity in Bangladesh.
India has recently given several loans to Bangladesh. It gave $750 million for developing Bangladesh infrastructure in 2011
In 2014 India extended a $1 billion soft loan for infrastructure development.

Lines of credit

$862 million was given to buy equipment and services from Indian entities such as BHEL, RITES, small and medium enterprises.

Small development projects

India announced a grant of nearly $10 million to Bangladesh for the implementation of various small development projects and also assured it to address trade imbalance issues.

Health

India and Bangladesh signed a memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the fields of health and medical sciences that will include joint research in health and exchange of doctors and health professionals. The MoU is aimed at promoting cooperation between the two countries in the fields of health and medical sciences through exchange of scientific materials and information and joint collaboration in research in medical science.

Bilateral trade and loans

Bangladesh-India bilateral trade was over US$10 billion in 2018–19. India provides loans to Bangladesh on favorable terms, as compared to China's loans on less favorable terms.

Scholarships

Every year 200 Bangladeshi students receive ICCR scholarships. India has offered scholarships for meritorious Bangladeshi under and post graduate students and PhD researchers to undertake studies in traditional systems of medicines like Ayurveda, Unani and Homeopathy, according to Indian High Commission in Dhaka. In 2017, 400 Indian medical students protested in Chittagong after they failed to register with the Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council.

Trade and investment

The trade is set to go at $10 billion by 2018 through ports. Bilateral trade between India and Bangladesh stood at US$6.6 billion in 2013–14 with India's exports at US$6.1 billion and imports from Bangladesh at US$462 million, representing more than double the value of US$2.7 billion five years ago.
Bangladesh Cabinet has approved a revised trade deal with India under which the two nations would be able to use each other's land and water routes for sending goods to a third country, removing a long-standing barrier in regional trade. Under the deal India would also be able to send goods to Myanmar through Bangladesh. It incorporated a provision that the deal would be renewed automatically after five years if neither of the countries did not have any objection.