02 Dec India and Bangladesh: A Partnership for Regional Stability
SYLLABUS MAPPING:
GS-2- International relations-India and Bangladesh: A Partnership for Regional Stability
FOR PRELIMS:
India and Bangladesh’s ties, defence exercises and other similar agreements
FOR MAINS:
What are the key areas of India-Bangladesh cooperation, and how the recent development could impact the bilateral relationship
Why in the news?
Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Pranay Verma, stated that India is committed to maintaining a stable, positive, and constructive relationship with Bangladesh, where the people of both nations are the primary beneficiaries. He made these remarks while discussing India-Bangladesh relations at the Bay of Bengal Conversation, an event organized by the Centre for Governance Studies in Dhaka.
India-Bangladesh cooperation:
1. Defence Cooperation: India and Bangladesh engage in joint military exercises like Sampriti and Maitree, enhancing border and maritime security, and counterterrorism efforts, particularly in the Bay of Bengal.
2. Economic Cooperation: India is one of Bangladesh’s largest trading partners, with bilateral trade surpassing $18 billion in 2023. India exports machinery, chemicals, and agricultural products, while Bangladesh exports textiles and garments. India also invests in infrastructure and technology sectors.
3. Strategic and Regional Cooperation: India and Bangladesh collaborate in regional forums such as SAARC, BIMSTEC, and BBIN, focusing on South Asian stability, counterterrorism, and connectivity.
4. Cultural Cooperation: The two nations share cultural ties, marked by joint film festivals, academic exchanges, and commemorations of the 1971 Liberation War. Cultural diplomacy strengthens their historical and familial bonds.
5. Technological and Scientific Cooperation: India assists Bangladesh in space technology, biotechnology, and IT infrastructure, with collaborative projects in agriculture, healthcare, and disaster management, including support from ISRO.
6. Energy Cooperation: India exports 1,160 MW of electricity to Bangladesh and both countries explore renewable energy projects and strengthen gas pipeline connectivity.
7. Connectivity and Infrastructure: Key projects like the Akhaura-Agartala rail link and Mongla Port enhance cross-border transport, facilitating smoother trade and people movement.
Significance of Bangladesh for India:
1. Important Trade Partners: Bangladesh is India’s largest trade partner in South Asia, while India stands as the second-largest trade partner of Bangladesh in Asia. In 2023-24, bilateral trade between the two countries reached USD 14.01 billion, reflecting the strong economic ties and growing trade relations between them.
2. Security and Border Management: India and Bangladesh collaborate closely on security issues, including police cooperation, anti-corruption efforts, and tackling illicit drug trafficking, fake currency, and human trafficking. They also work together to secure their 4,096 km border with initiatives such as border fencing and joint boundary pillar inspections, ensuring effective border management and enhancing security for both nations.
3. Peaceful Resolution of Border Issues: The Land Boundary Agreement (2015) and Maritime Boundary Delimitation exemplify the peaceful resolution of territorial disputes between the countries.
4. Sub-Regional Cooperation: Both countries share a common vision for the Indo-Pacific, focusing on maritime security and the development of the ocean economy.
5. Multilateral Engagement: India and Bangladesh actively engage in various multilateral platforms, such as SAARC, BIMSTEC, BBIN (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal), and IORA.
6. Enhanced Connectivity: Initiatives like the Protocol on Inland Waterways Trade and Transit (PIWTT) and the use of Chittagong and Mongla Ports have significantly improved connectivity between the two countries.
7. Cultural and People-to-People Relations: The Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre and the Indian Cultural Centre in Dhaka play a key role in promoting the shared cultural heritage and strengthening people-to-people ties.
8. Defence Cooperation: Military exercises such as SAMPRITI and MILAN highlight the active defence cooperation between the two nations.
Significance of India for Bangladesh:
1. Internal Connectivity: India plays a key role in enhancing Bangladesh’s internal connectivity, offering easier access to India’s North-Eastern states. A prominent example is the Akhaura-Agartala cross-border rail link, which improves transportation and trade.
2. Regional Integration: Bangladesh is centrally located in India’s strategic frameworks, including the Neighbourhood First Policy, Act East Policy, Vision SAGAR, and Indo-Pacific Vision, making it a key partner for regional integration.
3. Support for India’s Regional Leadership: Bangladesh contributes to India’s regional leadership vision by helping counter China’s assertive presence in the region, fostering greater geopolitical balance.
4. Developmental Partnership: Over the past 8 years, India has extended nearly US$ 8 billion in Lines of Credit (LOC) to Bangladesh, supporting its infrastructure and development projects.
5. Human Resource Development: India provides training for Bangladesh’s Civil Service and police officials, strengthening governance and institutional capacity in Bangladesh.
6. Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR): India has been a key partner in humanitarian assistance, notably through initiatives like Vaccine Maitri, where India supplied COVID-19 vaccines to Bangladesh during the pandemic, demonstrating its commitment to regional welfare.
Recent development consequence:
1. Political Transition in Bangladesh: Bangladesh’s political uncertainty raises concerns about the future of ongoing projects. Despite this, India remains Bangladesh’s key development partner, essential for economic stability and regional connectivity.
2. Connectivity as a Cornerstone of Bilateral Ties: Connectivity remains a critical component of India-Bangladesh relations, with key projects like the Akhaura-Agartala rail link, Bhutan rail connectivity, and energy initiatives such as the India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline strengthening their partnership.
3. Trade and Energy Cooperation”: India is Bangladesh’s largest trading partner, with established connectivity channels facilitating trade. Energy collaborations, such as the Maitree Thermal Power Plant and SASEC HVDC grid projects, support Bangladesh’s energy security.
4. Digital Connectivity and Future Plans: The India-Bangladesh Digital Partnership aims to boost 4G/5G rollout and contribute to Bangladesh’s Smart Bangladesh 2041 plan, enhancing digital infrastructure for economic growth.
5. Resilience During Political Instability: Despite the political upheaval, economic interdependence and established connectivity allowed for the swift reopening of the Petrapole-Benapole land port, ensuring a quick return to normalcy in trade.
6. Need for Continuity in Bilateral Cooperation: To maintain stability and growth, both countries must ensure the continuity of key projects like the BBIN Motor Vehicle Agreement and the Katihar-Parbatipur-Bornagar transmission line.
7. India’s Role in Regional Stability: India’s extensive connectivity initiatives help foster regional stability, supporting Bangladesh’s goal to achieve developing country status by 2026, with India being a crucial development partner.
8. Regional Integration through Connectivity: Shared initiatives like BIMSTEC and BBIN are vital for enhancing trade, energy, and transport links across South Asia, and strengthening regional integration and stability.
Way forward:
1. Sustaining Connectivity Projects: Ensuring the timely completion and operationalization of ongoing projects such as the Akhaura-Agartala rail link and the Katihar-Parbatipur-Bornagar electricity transmission line will significantly enhance bilateral connectivity, trade, and regional integration.
2. Strengthening Energy Cooperation: Expanding energy projects, including the construction of the Rooppur Nuclear Plant and joint efforts to explore renewable energy, will further enhance Bangladesh’s energy security and economic growth.
3. Digital Partnership: Prioritizing the India-Bangladesh Digital Partnership will allow both nations to leverage digital technologies for economic growth, improve cross-border data exchange, and support the development of Smart Bangladesh.
4. Enhanced Multilateral Engagement: Both nations should continue to work within regional frameworks like BIMSTEC and BBIN, ensuring stable regional security, connectivity, and prosperity and addressing challenges like counterterrorism and climate change.
5. Human Resource and Disaster Management Cooperation: Strengthening training programs for Bangladesh’s civil service and police, alongside joint disaster relief efforts, will ensure effective governance and resilience during crises.
6. Continuity in Development Partnership: India should continue to play a key role in Bangladesh’s development by extending further Lines of Credit (LOC), supporting infrastructure, and providing technical expertise across sectors like transport, healthcare, and agriculture.
Conclusion
India and Bangladesh share a dynamic, multifaceted relationship marked by strategic, economic, and cultural ties. Despite political transitions in Bangladesh, the strong connectivity, trade, and development cooperation between the two nations continue to serve as a pillar for stability in South Asia. The deepening of these partnerships, especially in energy, digital infrastructure, and regional cooperation, will be crucial in realizing the full potential of their bilateral and regional aspirations. Both countries must prioritize continuity in cooperation to ensure long-term growth, security, and regional stability.
Download Plutus IAS Current Affairs ENG MED 02nd Dec 2024 pdf
Prelims Question:
Q. With reference to India-Bangladesh relations, which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. India is Bangladesh’s largest trading partner in South Asia, with bilateral trade reaching USD 14.01 billion in 2023-24.
2. India is not involved in any energy projects with Bangladesh, particularly in nuclear energy.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
A. 1 only
B. 2 only
C. Both 1 and 2
D. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: A
Mains Question:
Q. Despite political instability in Bangladesh, India has maintained a strong developmental partnership with the country. How have India’s infrastructure, energy, and digital connectivity projects contributed to Bangladesh’s economic stability and growth?
(250 words, 15 marks)
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