Bangladesh
Bangladesh-India Old friendships die hard: The resilient relationship between India and Bangladesh
Dhaka/Delhi: July 24: In the context of neighboring countries, a common border is usually not the only thing they share - there is usually an overlap and exchange of history, culture and language among other aspects. To illustrate, India shares its longest international border (over 4,096 km) with Bangladesh, with the two countries also sharing a deep political and cultural history. India aided Bangladesh’s independence in 1971 by providing humanitarian assistance, a shelter to refugees, and military support during its war for liberation and was among the first to recognize it as an independent country.
Decades later, the India–Bangladesh relationship, multifaceted and symbiotic, still stands strong and is among the most important in the Indian subcontinent today. India considers Bangladesh an inseparable part of its Act East policy, through which the Indian government aims to strengthen economic and strategic ties with other Southeast Asian countries. Major aspects of this relationship include defence cooperation, improved connectivity, economic ties, water sharing, energy, infrastructure development and capacity building.
Better connectivity will ease the movement of goods, promoting trade and commerce; a World Bank study also reinforces this by stating that “Improving transport connectivity between the countries could increase exports even further, yielding a 297% increase in Bangladesh’s exports to India and a 172% rise in India’s exports to Bangladesh.”
Transport, energy and capacity building are the hallmarks of bilateral cooperation. Improved connectivity, therefore, forms a key driving force of this relationship: three of the 12 major ports across the Bay of Bengal coast are in Bangladesh, which also has well-developed inland waterways. Thanks to improved bilateral co-operation, India’s landlocked Northeast is now more accessible than before from the mainland through a much shorter mix of land, river, and sea routes—all passing through Bangladesh. It is going to benefit both the countries in the future.
Agreements to expedite cross-border trade include India’s provision of free transit to Bangladesh for exporting products to Nepal and Bhutan. A significant decision was also made by allowing India to use the key ports of Chattogram and Mongla in Bangladesh for the transit and trans-shipment of cargo vessels. It is noteworthy that due to such projects, India was able to quickly deliver oxygen, vaccines, and medical supplies to Bangladesh while reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Other connectivity initiatives include a railway project from Agartala (India) to Akhaura (Bangladesh), which upon completion will reduce travel time from 31 hours to 10 hours; Japan’s proposal to build an industrial hub in Bangladesh for the Bay of Bengal and northeast India, which could improve development in the impoverished region residing 300 million people; and Bangladesh’s interest to join the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway.
Water resource management between the two countries has been an important and complex issue, considering the 54 rivers in common. However, for the first time in 26 years, the countries signed an MoU in 2022 to share water of the Kushiyara River for consumption during the dry season. Another one regarding water distribution of the Feni River was also signed. While the long-standing issues related to the Ganges and Teesta rivers remain, they are likely to be resolved soon through ongoing bilateral dialogue.
India has also aided Bangladesh significantly w.r.t. its defence partnership. India offered Bangladesh a USD 500 million Defence Line of Credit (LoC) for its modernisation. The neighbours are also working on maritime security in the region.
To further enhance bilateral relations, energy cooperation is quickly becoming a key focus area. To help Bangladesh with its energy deficit and high costs, India once again has held out its hand with the recent inauguration of an INR 377 crore diesel pipeline from India to northern Bangladesh, which will also reduce costs and carbon footprint. Additionally, Adani Group on 15 July 2023 announced the commissioning of India’s first transnational project in Jharkhand to supply power to Bangladesh’s electricity grid. Similarly, Amara Raja Infra will commence a USD 130 million solar project in the country, helping it take another step towards energy security.
It is commendable that despite India’s accelerated growth and rising power, it has not only maintained but also strengthened its ties with and investments in its neighbouring counterpart. Both countries recognize their partnership’s immense potential for further growth. India’s active participation in the growth model of the region would definitely give a big push to the aspirations of people of Bangladesh. With this, India is proving itself to be a true friend of Bangladesh, i.e. ‘a friend in need is a friend indeed’.
