State Visit of the Prime Minister of Bangladesh to India

General Studies Paper -2

Context: The Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Haseena is on a state visit to India.

About

• The two sides signed key pacts including, increasing rail connectivity, boosting trade and having a ‘green partnership’.
• India and Bangladesh pledged to start negotiations on a comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA); decided to launch a medical e-visa facility for Bangladesh citizens; agreed to send a technical team to discuss Teesta river water-sharing.

Highlights of India Bangladesh Relations

• Independence and Liberation War: India played a crucial role in Bangladesh’s independence in 1971, supporting the Bengali nationalist movement against Pakistani rule.
• This historic event laid the foundation for strong bilateral ties.
• Land Boundary Agreement (LBA): In 2015, both countries resolved long-standing border issues by exchanging enclaves and simplifying their international border, which had remained unresolved since partition in 1947.
• Connectivity: Five pre-1965 rail links have been rehabilitated between India and Bangladesh.
  • There are currently three railway trains operating between the two countries – Maitri Express ; Bandhan Express ; and Mitali Express.
  • The inauguration of Akhaura-Agartala cross-border rail link is a crucial step towards enhancing connectivity of northeastern India with Bangladesh.
• Economic Relations: Bangladesh is India’s biggest trade partner in South Asia and India is the second biggest trade partner of Bangladesh in Asia.
• India is Bangladesh’s largest export destination in Asia, with approx USD 2 billion of Bangladeshi exports to India in FY 2022-23.
• In FY 2022-23, the total bilateral trade has been reported as USD 15.9 billion.
• Trade Agreements: The two countries are members of various regional trade agreements such as the Asia Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA), the SAARC Preferential Trade Agreement (SAPTA) and the Agreement on South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) which govern the tariff regimes for trade.
• Regional Cooperation: Both countries are active members of regional organizations like SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) and BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation), promoting regional integration and cooperation.
• Various Joint exercises take place between the two countries:
  • Exercise Sampriti (Army) and
  • Exercise Milan (Navy).
• In the energy sector, Bangladesh imports nearly 2,000 megawatts of electricity from India.

Challenges

• Border Issues: Although the Land Boundary Agreement in 2015 resolved many longstanding border disputes, there are still occasional issues related to border security and illegal crossings that strain relations.
• Water Sharing: Disputes over the sharing of common rivers, such as the Teesta River, remain unresolved.
• Rohingya issue: The Bangladesh government aims for the peaceful repatriation of Rohingyas to Myanmar, but it’s talks with the military junta have been unsuccessful so far.
  • Bangladesh seeks India’s cooperation to influence Myanmar, but the government, asserts that it will deport Rohingyas from its mainland.
• Trade Imbalance: While trade between India and Bangladesh has grown significantly, there remains a trade imbalance where India exports more to Bangladesh than it imports.
  • This led to economic tensions and protectionist measures.
• Security Concerns: Issues related to border security, cross-border smuggling, and occasional incidents involving extremist groups pose security challenges for both countries, requiring continued cooperation and vigilance.
• China Factor: India’s concern is the deepening relationship between Bangladesh and China, marked by the substantial Chinese investments in infrastructure in recent years.

Way Ahead

• India considers Bangladesh a critical ally in the region.
  • A 4,096-km border, the India-Bangladesh border is the longest land boundary India has with any of its neighbours.
• Over the years, India and Bangladesh have forged a multifaceted relationship, marked by a shared history, culture, and geographical proximity.
• The foreign policy alignment between the two nations promises increased collaboration in traditional and new areas, and provides an opportunity for the two countries to address unresolved conflicts.
• Both the countries are poised to take forward discussions on a FTA to enhance their economic partnership and boost investments