HPAS/Allied Mains 2022 Answer Writing Challenge Day 141 : Model Answer

QUESTION: Discuss about the important facets of India-Bangladesh relations. (8 marks/ 120 words)

Answer:

India and Bangladesh share bonds of history, language, culture, and multitude of other commonalities. Land Boundary Agreement in 2015, and to accept an international tribunal verdict in favour of Bangladesh that resolved a 40-year-old maritime dispute have strengthen the relationship between two countries.

Emerging Cooperation:

Economic and Commercial: An India-Bangladesh CEO’s Forum was launched in 2020 to provide policy level inputs in various areas of trade and investment and also to facilitate exchanges among the business communities of both the countries. The first meeting of the India-Bangladesh Textile Industry Forum was held in 2020 to enhance linkages and collaboration in the textile sector.

Development Partnership: India has extended 3 Lines of Credits (LOC) to Bangladesh in the last 8 years amounting to US$ 8 billion for development of infrastructure in various sectors including roads, railways, shipping and ports.

Capacity Building and Human Resource Development: India has been training 1800 Bangladesh Civil Service officials from 2019 at National Centre for Good Governance (NCGG), Mussoorie.

Cultural Cooperation: The Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre (IGCC) in Dhaka plays an important role in celebration of common cultural links between the two countries. Its training programs including Yoga, Kathak, Manipuri dance, Hindi language, Hindustani classical music and the cultural programs of renowned artists of India and Bangladesh contribute in promotion of people-to-people contacts.

Visas:  To liberalize Indian visa application process and to strengthen people to people contacts between India and Bangladesh, six new Indian Visa Application Centers (IVACs) were opened.

Cooperation to tackle the challenge of COVID-19 pandemic:  India provided surgical masks, Hydroxychloroquine medicine tablets and RT-PCR test kits to assist in its efforts to fight against the COVID pandemic.

Challenges:

China Factor: e.g., Bangabandhu Bangladesh China Friendship Exhibition Centre (BBCFEC) in Dhaka reflects the growing relation between two countries.

Water dispute: e.g., Teesta River dispute, Bangladesh wants a more significant proportion than it already receives.

The problem of Rohingya Refugees: Bangladesh is home to around 11 million Rohingya Muslims. This crisis can affect ‘neighbourhood first’ policy of India.

Conclusion:  According to world bank report, there would be consequent effect on GDP for both India and Bangladesh if there is free trade and liberal connectivity.  Indo Bangladesh relations have to be scaled up to a strategic alliance earliest to counter China.