India - Bangladesh | International Relations for UPSC 2024 (Pre & Mains) PDF Download

 Page 1


 
India-Bangladesh Relations 
•There is no country integrated more closely with India than Bangladesh in respect of language, culture 
and ethnicity 
•
It is the most coherent country in India’s neighbourhood. Nearly all of it comprises one ethnic group, 
nearly all worship one religious faith, nearly all speak one language  
•
It is nearly surrounded by Indian territory, and the fact that it can identify closely with adjacent India in 
terms of ethnicity, religion, language, culture, and shared history should make it a natural friend for India 
•
There have been long periods of mutual indifference and veiled hostility 
•
Frustration has frequently been the prevailing mood in both capitals. Bilateral relations have been 
dependent on the character of the political party in power in Dhaka, and ties have become hostage to the 
vagaries of domestic party politics in both countries 
•Indo-Bangladeshi relations directly impact domestic politics in Bangladesh. The BNP suspects any 
agreement with India as anti-national, and bitter animosity between the major Bangladeshi political 
formations inhibits the realization of the full bilateral potential 
www.YouTube.com/SleepyClasses 
www.SleepyClasses.com 
!
Page 2


 
India-Bangladesh Relations 
•There is no country integrated more closely with India than Bangladesh in respect of language, culture 
and ethnicity 
•
It is the most coherent country in India’s neighbourhood. Nearly all of it comprises one ethnic group, 
nearly all worship one religious faith, nearly all speak one language  
•
It is nearly surrounded by Indian territory, and the fact that it can identify closely with adjacent India in 
terms of ethnicity, religion, language, culture, and shared history should make it a natural friend for India 
•
There have been long periods of mutual indifference and veiled hostility 
•
Frustration has frequently been the prevailing mood in both capitals. Bilateral relations have been 
dependent on the character of the political party in power in Dhaka, and ties have become hostage to the 
vagaries of domestic party politics in both countries 
•Indo-Bangladeshi relations directly impact domestic politics in Bangladesh. The BNP suspects any 
agreement with India as anti-national, and bitter animosity between the major Bangladeshi political 
formations inhibits the realization of the full bilateral potential 
www.YouTube.com/SleepyClasses 
www.SleepyClasses.com 
! 
•In the process, the fundamentals of the cultural, linguistic, historical, ethnic, economic, and geopolitical 
imperatives for good relations have often been overlooked and made subject to populism and occasional 
third-country involvement 
•The justi?cation for Bangladesh’s political independence from Pakistan, and earlier separation from 
India, lies in its identity as both ‘Bengali’ and ‘Muslim’ 
?The characteristic of the Bengali Muslim has been the search for self-identity, ?rst from Hindu India 
and then from Urdu-speaking Pakistan 
•
A distinctive Bengali Muslim identity has been forged in a post-colonial secular nationalist setting that 
can be favorably contrasted with Pakistan because of its relative tolerance, informed by attempts to 
preserve the richness of Bengali language and culture in a Muslim country within a context of religious 
in?uences over many centuries that included Buddhist, Hindu, and Su? traditions 
•
There is a continuing search for a Bengali identity that is distinct from India, and a Muslim one that is 
separate from Pakistan; there is thus a duality of heritage. ‘Muslim-ness’ is an attribute of Bangladeshi 
national identity, which distinguishes it from neighboring India, and ‘Bengali-ness’ distinguishes it from 
Pakistan 
Evolution of Relationship 
Phase I - Independence in 1971 
•
India trumped not only the Pakistani forces but the Americans and the Chinese as well who were in 
support of Pakistan 
•Great signi?cance was read into the presence of Sikh, Hindu and Jewish of?cers at the surrender 
ceremony, symbolising the triumph of Indian secularism over Islamic fundamentalism  
•It gave a death-blow to Jinnah’s two-nation doctrine  
•
India’s foreign policy trumped backed by the force of arms  
•
But along with this there were a few problems as well  
?10 million refugees  
?Massive internal displacement 
?Famine 
?Mujibur Rahman’s impetuous maladministration  
Phase II - Period of Military Rule until 1990 
•The coup against Mujib was engineered by elements in the army and civil society, supported by the US, 
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and China  
•Islam was declared a state religion  
•
Dhaka’s of?cial policy was to keep India at arm’s length and enlist Islamist forces inside and outside the 
country  
?This diluted its ties with India 
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!
Page 3


 
India-Bangladesh Relations 
•There is no country integrated more closely with India than Bangladesh in respect of language, culture 
and ethnicity 
•
It is the most coherent country in India’s neighbourhood. Nearly all of it comprises one ethnic group, 
nearly all worship one religious faith, nearly all speak one language  
•
It is nearly surrounded by Indian territory, and the fact that it can identify closely with adjacent India in 
terms of ethnicity, religion, language, culture, and shared history should make it a natural friend for India 
•
There have been long periods of mutual indifference and veiled hostility 
•
Frustration has frequently been the prevailing mood in both capitals. Bilateral relations have been 
dependent on the character of the political party in power in Dhaka, and ties have become hostage to the 
vagaries of domestic party politics in both countries 
•Indo-Bangladeshi relations directly impact domestic politics in Bangladesh. The BNP suspects any 
agreement with India as anti-national, and bitter animosity between the major Bangladeshi political 
formations inhibits the realization of the full bilateral potential 
www.YouTube.com/SleepyClasses 
www.SleepyClasses.com 
! 
•In the process, the fundamentals of the cultural, linguistic, historical, ethnic, economic, and geopolitical 
imperatives for good relations have often been overlooked and made subject to populism and occasional 
third-country involvement 
•The justi?cation for Bangladesh’s political independence from Pakistan, and earlier separation from 
India, lies in its identity as both ‘Bengali’ and ‘Muslim’ 
?The characteristic of the Bengali Muslim has been the search for self-identity, ?rst from Hindu India 
and then from Urdu-speaking Pakistan 
•
A distinctive Bengali Muslim identity has been forged in a post-colonial secular nationalist setting that 
can be favorably contrasted with Pakistan because of its relative tolerance, informed by attempts to 
preserve the richness of Bengali language and culture in a Muslim country within a context of religious 
in?uences over many centuries that included Buddhist, Hindu, and Su? traditions 
•
There is a continuing search for a Bengali identity that is distinct from India, and a Muslim one that is 
separate from Pakistan; there is thus a duality of heritage. ‘Muslim-ness’ is an attribute of Bangladeshi 
national identity, which distinguishes it from neighboring India, and ‘Bengali-ness’ distinguishes it from 
Pakistan 
Evolution of Relationship 
Phase I - Independence in 1971 
•
India trumped not only the Pakistani forces but the Americans and the Chinese as well who were in 
support of Pakistan 
•Great signi?cance was read into the presence of Sikh, Hindu and Jewish of?cers at the surrender 
ceremony, symbolising the triumph of Indian secularism over Islamic fundamentalism  
•It gave a death-blow to Jinnah’s two-nation doctrine  
•
India’s foreign policy trumped backed by the force of arms  
•
But along with this there were a few problems as well  
?10 million refugees  
?Massive internal displacement 
?Famine 
?Mujibur Rahman’s impetuous maladministration  
Phase II - Period of Military Rule until 1990 
•The coup against Mujib was engineered by elements in the army and civil society, supported by the US, 
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and China  
•Islam was declared a state religion  
•
Dhaka’s of?cial policy was to keep India at arm’s length and enlist Islamist forces inside and outside the 
country  
?This diluted its ties with India 
www.YouTube.com/SleepyClasses 
www.SleepyClasses.com 
! 
•India riposted by minimal attention to Bangladesh whether in the matter of bilateral issues or 
Bangladesh’s initiative to establish the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) 
Phase III - Multi-party democracy 
•Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) under Khaleda Zia stood for Bangladeshi nationalism that was 
interpreted as synonymous with stridently standing up to the Indian ‘domination’ and its rival the Awami 
League (AL). AL professed the values of the Liberation War, namely Bengali nationalism, secularism and 
socialism which coincided with those of India 
•
Both the parties often had recourse to support from the anti-independence party the Jamaat e Islami 
(JeI), which had revived after its leaders returned from self-exile abroad, during which they had 
portrayed the Liberation War as a confrontation between India and Islam 
•The nadir for Indian foreign policy was reached between 2001 and 2006, when the BNP-JeI government 
sponsored rampant terrorist activity in and from Bangladesh, together with vicious attacks on domestic 
minorities 
Phase IV - Return of Awami League 
•
Return of the Awami League government in the elections of 2009 represents the current fourth phase. 
The bilateral relationship was transformed from neighbors to partners in growth and economic 
development. The re-election of the Awami League in 2014 found an echo in India of some the earlier 
optimism of the liberation period 
Importance of Bangladesh  
As a country with a massive Muslim majority and the third most populous Muslim country in the world, it is of 
great importance to India’s values that New Delhi is seen to enjoy the closest ties with Bangladesh.  
•Foreign Policy: It is of importance also to Indian foreign policy in respect of Muslim countries elsewhere. 
Therefore India’s relationship with Bangladesh has a greater far-reaching signi?cance than bilateralism 
alone and any government in Dhaka that inclines to India rather than Pakistan would merit Indian 
support 
?India’s neighbourhood ?rst policy has focussed on Bangladesh, which has emerged as a key 
interlocutor in India’s Act East policy and sub-regional groupings like BIMSTEC and BBIN initiative  
•
Islamist Militance and Counter-terrorism Cooperation: Given the sensitivity and vulnerability of its 
volatile northeast, which borders on ?ve nations including Bangladesh, New Delhi is conscious of the 
potential threat if Bangladesh became a focal point of Islamist militancy 
?A landmark in relations was reached with Bangladesh conveying an assurance that anti-India 
activities from its territory would no longer be entertained 
•
Secure Borders: It would be impossible to seal a border of 4096 km that is the ?fth longest in the world, 
is porous, and subject not only to cross-border militancy but illegal migration into India and smuggling. 
India wants Bangladesh to work cooperatively for better border controls 
?Stability and economic progress in Bangladesh are essential for the security and prosperity of India, 
and especially of the fragile Indian northeast 
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www.SleepyClasses.com 
!
Page 4


 
India-Bangladesh Relations 
•There is no country integrated more closely with India than Bangladesh in respect of language, culture 
and ethnicity 
•
It is the most coherent country in India’s neighbourhood. Nearly all of it comprises one ethnic group, 
nearly all worship one religious faith, nearly all speak one language  
•
It is nearly surrounded by Indian territory, and the fact that it can identify closely with adjacent India in 
terms of ethnicity, religion, language, culture, and shared history should make it a natural friend for India 
•
There have been long periods of mutual indifference and veiled hostility 
•
Frustration has frequently been the prevailing mood in both capitals. Bilateral relations have been 
dependent on the character of the political party in power in Dhaka, and ties have become hostage to the 
vagaries of domestic party politics in both countries 
•Indo-Bangladeshi relations directly impact domestic politics in Bangladesh. The BNP suspects any 
agreement with India as anti-national, and bitter animosity between the major Bangladeshi political 
formations inhibits the realization of the full bilateral potential 
www.YouTube.com/SleepyClasses 
www.SleepyClasses.com 
! 
•In the process, the fundamentals of the cultural, linguistic, historical, ethnic, economic, and geopolitical 
imperatives for good relations have often been overlooked and made subject to populism and occasional 
third-country involvement 
•The justi?cation for Bangladesh’s political independence from Pakistan, and earlier separation from 
India, lies in its identity as both ‘Bengali’ and ‘Muslim’ 
?The characteristic of the Bengali Muslim has been the search for self-identity, ?rst from Hindu India 
and then from Urdu-speaking Pakistan 
•
A distinctive Bengali Muslim identity has been forged in a post-colonial secular nationalist setting that 
can be favorably contrasted with Pakistan because of its relative tolerance, informed by attempts to 
preserve the richness of Bengali language and culture in a Muslim country within a context of religious 
in?uences over many centuries that included Buddhist, Hindu, and Su? traditions 
•
There is a continuing search for a Bengali identity that is distinct from India, and a Muslim one that is 
separate from Pakistan; there is thus a duality of heritage. ‘Muslim-ness’ is an attribute of Bangladeshi 
national identity, which distinguishes it from neighboring India, and ‘Bengali-ness’ distinguishes it from 
Pakistan 
Evolution of Relationship 
Phase I - Independence in 1971 
•
India trumped not only the Pakistani forces but the Americans and the Chinese as well who were in 
support of Pakistan 
•Great signi?cance was read into the presence of Sikh, Hindu and Jewish of?cers at the surrender 
ceremony, symbolising the triumph of Indian secularism over Islamic fundamentalism  
•It gave a death-blow to Jinnah’s two-nation doctrine  
•
India’s foreign policy trumped backed by the force of arms  
•
But along with this there were a few problems as well  
?10 million refugees  
?Massive internal displacement 
?Famine 
?Mujibur Rahman’s impetuous maladministration  
Phase II - Period of Military Rule until 1990 
•The coup against Mujib was engineered by elements in the army and civil society, supported by the US, 
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and China  
•Islam was declared a state religion  
•
Dhaka’s of?cial policy was to keep India at arm’s length and enlist Islamist forces inside and outside the 
country  
?This diluted its ties with India 
www.YouTube.com/SleepyClasses 
www.SleepyClasses.com 
! 
•India riposted by minimal attention to Bangladesh whether in the matter of bilateral issues or 
Bangladesh’s initiative to establish the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) 
Phase III - Multi-party democracy 
•Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) under Khaleda Zia stood for Bangladeshi nationalism that was 
interpreted as synonymous with stridently standing up to the Indian ‘domination’ and its rival the Awami 
League (AL). AL professed the values of the Liberation War, namely Bengali nationalism, secularism and 
socialism which coincided with those of India 
•
Both the parties often had recourse to support from the anti-independence party the Jamaat e Islami 
(JeI), which had revived after its leaders returned from self-exile abroad, during which they had 
portrayed the Liberation War as a confrontation between India and Islam 
•The nadir for Indian foreign policy was reached between 2001 and 2006, when the BNP-JeI government 
sponsored rampant terrorist activity in and from Bangladesh, together with vicious attacks on domestic 
minorities 
Phase IV - Return of Awami League 
•
Return of the Awami League government in the elections of 2009 represents the current fourth phase. 
The bilateral relationship was transformed from neighbors to partners in growth and economic 
development. The re-election of the Awami League in 2014 found an echo in India of some the earlier 
optimism of the liberation period 
Importance of Bangladesh  
As a country with a massive Muslim majority and the third most populous Muslim country in the world, it is of 
great importance to India’s values that New Delhi is seen to enjoy the closest ties with Bangladesh.  
•Foreign Policy: It is of importance also to Indian foreign policy in respect of Muslim countries elsewhere. 
Therefore India’s relationship with Bangladesh has a greater far-reaching signi?cance than bilateralism 
alone and any government in Dhaka that inclines to India rather than Pakistan would merit Indian 
support 
?India’s neighbourhood ?rst policy has focussed on Bangladesh, which has emerged as a key 
interlocutor in India’s Act East policy and sub-regional groupings like BIMSTEC and BBIN initiative  
•
Islamist Militance and Counter-terrorism Cooperation: Given the sensitivity and vulnerability of its 
volatile northeast, which borders on ?ve nations including Bangladesh, New Delhi is conscious of the 
potential threat if Bangladesh became a focal point of Islamist militancy 
?A landmark in relations was reached with Bangladesh conveying an assurance that anti-India 
activities from its territory would no longer be entertained 
•
Secure Borders: It would be impossible to seal a border of 4096 km that is the ?fth longest in the world, 
is porous, and subject not only to cross-border militancy but illegal migration into India and smuggling. 
India wants Bangladesh to work cooperatively for better border controls 
?Stability and economic progress in Bangladesh are essential for the security and prosperity of India, 
and especially of the fragile Indian northeast 
www.YouTube.com/SleepyClasses 
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! 
•River Waters: The dif?culty is to ?nd modus vivendi between the upper and lower riparian. India is the 
upper riparian for Bangladesh and upstream uses like dams create downstream anxieties. In the dry 
season the ?ows in certain rivers decease sharply  
?Other than the Ganga, there is no agreement on any of the other 53 common rivers that ?ow from 
India to Bangladesh, the major of them being the Brahmaputra, T eesta, and Barak 
?The proposed Tipaimukh dam on the Barak and the sharing of the T eesta and Feni remain 
contentious 
?While India is an upper riparian to Bangladesh, it is the lower riparian for Nepal, Bhutan, and China. 
River management cooperation between Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, and India could provide ?ood 
control, irrigation, power generation and augmentation in the eastern region 
•Trade & Transit: Transit of Indian goods through Bangladesh is contentious, though it would lift 
economic growth in both countries and hold security bene?ts for India 
?Apart from the transit fees that would accrue to Bangladesh, this facility could open opportunities 
to develop as a trading hub with India’s northeast, and the economic costs of trade would decrease 
once trade through rail and waterways started movement 
?Bangladesh has excellent ports giving access to the outside world for exports from the northeast. 
India hoped to soften Bangladesh’s resistance by permitting it road and rail transit to Nepal and 
Bhutan across India, but Bangladesh’s political suspicions triumph over its economic advantages, 
and opponents of transit argue about surrender of sovereignty to resist Indian passage to and from 
its northeast 
?A tri-nation gas pipeline from Myanmar was one casualty of such opposition. Even if political 
roadblocks to transit by road, rail, and river were lifted, there are several infrastructural issues that 
would need to be resolved before the implementation of any eventual transit procedure 
?Bangladesh is India’s largest trading partner in South Asia with an annual turnover of around $9 
billion plus an estimated informal trade of around $8-9 billion, across the 4,100-km-long porous 
border 
?Cooperation in connectivity, energy, security and intelligence matters has intensi?ed. The Padma 
multipurpose bridge and the Akhaura-Agartala rail link will dramatically change connectivity within 
Bangladesh and with India. Waterways are also being revived to reduce the cost of trade 
•
Hindu Minority: At approximately 10 million people in Bangladesh, the Hindu minority community there 
is the biggest in the world. Being a relatively poor and deprived community, the Hindus are vulnerable in 
a population that is 90 per cent Muslim, and have frequently come under physical attack with losses of 
life and property. Hazratbal incident in 1963 led to Kulna massacre of Hindus, demolition of Babri Masjid 
led to anti-Hindu riots when some of the best-known temples were laid to waste 
?Such sectarian violence has immediate repercussions in India where sentiments favor the Hindu 
minority and where this issue becomes politicized. With the Indian public highly exercised, it 
becomes a huge emotional problem and a setback in bilateral relations 
•
Illegal Migration: The number of Hindus in Bangladesh has reduced by about one half of what it was at 
the time of independence. Most of those who departed, either voluntarily or driven out by religious 
www.YouTube.com/SleepyClasses 
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!
Page 5


 
India-Bangladesh Relations 
•There is no country integrated more closely with India than Bangladesh in respect of language, culture 
and ethnicity 
•
It is the most coherent country in India’s neighbourhood. Nearly all of it comprises one ethnic group, 
nearly all worship one religious faith, nearly all speak one language  
•
It is nearly surrounded by Indian territory, and the fact that it can identify closely with adjacent India in 
terms of ethnicity, religion, language, culture, and shared history should make it a natural friend for India 
•
There have been long periods of mutual indifference and veiled hostility 
•
Frustration has frequently been the prevailing mood in both capitals. Bilateral relations have been 
dependent on the character of the political party in power in Dhaka, and ties have become hostage to the 
vagaries of domestic party politics in both countries 
•Indo-Bangladeshi relations directly impact domestic politics in Bangladesh. The BNP suspects any 
agreement with India as anti-national, and bitter animosity between the major Bangladeshi political 
formations inhibits the realization of the full bilateral potential 
www.YouTube.com/SleepyClasses 
www.SleepyClasses.com 
! 
•In the process, the fundamentals of the cultural, linguistic, historical, ethnic, economic, and geopolitical 
imperatives for good relations have often been overlooked and made subject to populism and occasional 
third-country involvement 
•The justi?cation for Bangladesh’s political independence from Pakistan, and earlier separation from 
India, lies in its identity as both ‘Bengali’ and ‘Muslim’ 
?The characteristic of the Bengali Muslim has been the search for self-identity, ?rst from Hindu India 
and then from Urdu-speaking Pakistan 
•
A distinctive Bengali Muslim identity has been forged in a post-colonial secular nationalist setting that 
can be favorably contrasted with Pakistan because of its relative tolerance, informed by attempts to 
preserve the richness of Bengali language and culture in a Muslim country within a context of religious 
in?uences over many centuries that included Buddhist, Hindu, and Su? traditions 
•
There is a continuing search for a Bengali identity that is distinct from India, and a Muslim one that is 
separate from Pakistan; there is thus a duality of heritage. ‘Muslim-ness’ is an attribute of Bangladeshi 
national identity, which distinguishes it from neighboring India, and ‘Bengali-ness’ distinguishes it from 
Pakistan 
Evolution of Relationship 
Phase I - Independence in 1971 
•
India trumped not only the Pakistani forces but the Americans and the Chinese as well who were in 
support of Pakistan 
•Great signi?cance was read into the presence of Sikh, Hindu and Jewish of?cers at the surrender 
ceremony, symbolising the triumph of Indian secularism over Islamic fundamentalism  
•It gave a death-blow to Jinnah’s two-nation doctrine  
•
India’s foreign policy trumped backed by the force of arms  
•
But along with this there were a few problems as well  
?10 million refugees  
?Massive internal displacement 
?Famine 
?Mujibur Rahman’s impetuous maladministration  
Phase II - Period of Military Rule until 1990 
•The coup against Mujib was engineered by elements in the army and civil society, supported by the US, 
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and China  
•Islam was declared a state religion  
•
Dhaka’s of?cial policy was to keep India at arm’s length and enlist Islamist forces inside and outside the 
country  
?This diluted its ties with India 
www.YouTube.com/SleepyClasses 
www.SleepyClasses.com 
! 
•India riposted by minimal attention to Bangladesh whether in the matter of bilateral issues or 
Bangladesh’s initiative to establish the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) 
Phase III - Multi-party democracy 
•Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) under Khaleda Zia stood for Bangladeshi nationalism that was 
interpreted as synonymous with stridently standing up to the Indian ‘domination’ and its rival the Awami 
League (AL). AL professed the values of the Liberation War, namely Bengali nationalism, secularism and 
socialism which coincided with those of India 
•
Both the parties often had recourse to support from the anti-independence party the Jamaat e Islami 
(JeI), which had revived after its leaders returned from self-exile abroad, during which they had 
portrayed the Liberation War as a confrontation between India and Islam 
•The nadir for Indian foreign policy was reached between 2001 and 2006, when the BNP-JeI government 
sponsored rampant terrorist activity in and from Bangladesh, together with vicious attacks on domestic 
minorities 
Phase IV - Return of Awami League 
•
Return of the Awami League government in the elections of 2009 represents the current fourth phase. 
The bilateral relationship was transformed from neighbors to partners in growth and economic 
development. The re-election of the Awami League in 2014 found an echo in India of some the earlier 
optimism of the liberation period 
Importance of Bangladesh  
As a country with a massive Muslim majority and the third most populous Muslim country in the world, it is of 
great importance to India’s values that New Delhi is seen to enjoy the closest ties with Bangladesh.  
•Foreign Policy: It is of importance also to Indian foreign policy in respect of Muslim countries elsewhere. 
Therefore India’s relationship with Bangladesh has a greater far-reaching signi?cance than bilateralism 
alone and any government in Dhaka that inclines to India rather than Pakistan would merit Indian 
support 
?India’s neighbourhood ?rst policy has focussed on Bangladesh, which has emerged as a key 
interlocutor in India’s Act East policy and sub-regional groupings like BIMSTEC and BBIN initiative  
•
Islamist Militance and Counter-terrorism Cooperation: Given the sensitivity and vulnerability of its 
volatile northeast, which borders on ?ve nations including Bangladesh, New Delhi is conscious of the 
potential threat if Bangladesh became a focal point of Islamist militancy 
?A landmark in relations was reached with Bangladesh conveying an assurance that anti-India 
activities from its territory would no longer be entertained 
•
Secure Borders: It would be impossible to seal a border of 4096 km that is the ?fth longest in the world, 
is porous, and subject not only to cross-border militancy but illegal migration into India and smuggling. 
India wants Bangladesh to work cooperatively for better border controls 
?Stability and economic progress in Bangladesh are essential for the security and prosperity of India, 
and especially of the fragile Indian northeast 
www.YouTube.com/SleepyClasses 
www.SleepyClasses.com 
! 
•River Waters: The dif?culty is to ?nd modus vivendi between the upper and lower riparian. India is the 
upper riparian for Bangladesh and upstream uses like dams create downstream anxieties. In the dry 
season the ?ows in certain rivers decease sharply  
?Other than the Ganga, there is no agreement on any of the other 53 common rivers that ?ow from 
India to Bangladesh, the major of them being the Brahmaputra, T eesta, and Barak 
?The proposed Tipaimukh dam on the Barak and the sharing of the T eesta and Feni remain 
contentious 
?While India is an upper riparian to Bangladesh, it is the lower riparian for Nepal, Bhutan, and China. 
River management cooperation between Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, and India could provide ?ood 
control, irrigation, power generation and augmentation in the eastern region 
•Trade & Transit: Transit of Indian goods through Bangladesh is contentious, though it would lift 
economic growth in both countries and hold security bene?ts for India 
?Apart from the transit fees that would accrue to Bangladesh, this facility could open opportunities 
to develop as a trading hub with India’s northeast, and the economic costs of trade would decrease 
once trade through rail and waterways started movement 
?Bangladesh has excellent ports giving access to the outside world for exports from the northeast. 
India hoped to soften Bangladesh’s resistance by permitting it road and rail transit to Nepal and 
Bhutan across India, but Bangladesh’s political suspicions triumph over its economic advantages, 
and opponents of transit argue about surrender of sovereignty to resist Indian passage to and from 
its northeast 
?A tri-nation gas pipeline from Myanmar was one casualty of such opposition. Even if political 
roadblocks to transit by road, rail, and river were lifted, there are several infrastructural issues that 
would need to be resolved before the implementation of any eventual transit procedure 
?Bangladesh is India’s largest trading partner in South Asia with an annual turnover of around $9 
billion plus an estimated informal trade of around $8-9 billion, across the 4,100-km-long porous 
border 
?Cooperation in connectivity, energy, security and intelligence matters has intensi?ed. The Padma 
multipurpose bridge and the Akhaura-Agartala rail link will dramatically change connectivity within 
Bangladesh and with India. Waterways are also being revived to reduce the cost of trade 
•
Hindu Minority: At approximately 10 million people in Bangladesh, the Hindu minority community there 
is the biggest in the world. Being a relatively poor and deprived community, the Hindus are vulnerable in 
a population that is 90 per cent Muslim, and have frequently come under physical attack with losses of 
life and property. Hazratbal incident in 1963 led to Kulna massacre of Hindus, demolition of Babri Masjid 
led to anti-Hindu riots when some of the best-known temples were laid to waste 
?Such sectarian violence has immediate repercussions in India where sentiments favor the Hindu 
minority and where this issue becomes politicized. With the Indian public highly exercised, it 
becomes a huge emotional problem and a setback in bilateral relations 
•
Illegal Migration: The number of Hindus in Bangladesh has reduced by about one half of what it was at 
the time of independence. Most of those who departed, either voluntarily or driven out by religious 
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! 
bigotry, entered India without proper documentation. But the vast majority of the illegal migrants are 
Muslims who enter India for economic reasons. The steady in?ux of Bangladeshis to India led to 
demographic changes in the bordering states 
?Rising population and the effects of climate change resulting in submergence of coastal lands are 
likely to magnify this trend in years to come. Therefore action like population control measures 
within Bangladesh, ef?cacy of border control, and bilateral mechanisms are needed to check illegal 
migration to India  
•
Energy: India has also become a partner in Bangladesh’s nuclear power programme, with the beginning 
of construction at the Rooppur nuclear power plant. India is poised to export around 1100 MW of power 
to meet the energy de?cit in Bangladesh. Power projects totalling more than 3600 MW are under 
implementation by Indian companies 
?Bangladesh is currently importing about 660 MW of power from India 
?India has agreed to fund the construction of India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline from Siliguri to 
Parbatipur for supply of Diesel to Bangladesh from Numaligarh Re?nery Limited. ONGC Videsh Ltd 
has acquired two shallow water blocks in consortium with Oil India Limited and is currently 
exploring these blocks. The possibility of gas grid interconnectivity for the mutual bene?t of the two 
countries is also being explored 
•
Improvement in bilateral ties has led to newer areas of cooperation such as cyberspace. Bangladesh has 
provided cyber connectivity between the international gateway at Cox’s Bazar to Agartala for faster 
Internet connectivity in India’s northeastern States 
Factors in India-Bangladesh Relations 
•Indian Domestic Pubic Opinion  
?The cause of East Pakistan’s independence from Pakistani rule attracted the full support of the 
Indian public  
?
It backed not only armed intervention but the measures to rebuild Bangladesh  
?As India’s special status in Bangladesh dwindled, the Indian public was ?rst alarmed by what was 
seen as blatant lack of gratitude, and then lost interest, the only remaining interface with 
Bangladesh being the usually unwelcome presence of illegal migrants providing low-cost labor in 
nearly all parts of India 
?The intensity of cultural exchanges with Bangladesh, certainly exceeding by far that with any other 
Indian neighbor, made little impression on the public’s general distaste for Bangladesh. The one 
exception is the state of West Bengal, where many families harbor fond, though inevitably fading, 
memories of connections with East Bengal, and where celebrations of anniversaries of 
Rabindranath T agore and Nazrul Islam, among other events, keep cultural contacts ?ourishing. 
Media coverage of Bangladesh closely follows these trends in public opinion 
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