The Hindu Editorial Analysis- 8th August 2024 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

The leader who lost touch with Bangladesh

Why in News?

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's unceremonious exit from power and the country has sudden and swift. Many are still trying to comprehend how the "Iron Lady", seemingly in complete control until the student movement intensified, could compelled to step down even leave Bangladesh. Not that her leaving the country has cooled Far from it. Bangladesh has descQnded into chaos and mindless blculletting, driven by a wild urge for vendetta. Ms. Hasina's party men, religious minorities, IX)licemen and border guards have targeted, leaving dozens dead and injured, not to speak of the huge loss of property. The most worrying EXIrt is the systematic attacks on police stations and the looting of weapons by elements believed to religious radicals.

How has Indo-Bangladesh relations evolved over time?

• India and Bangladesh have a special connection through their culture, language, and history.
• They share a close relationship because of their common cultural background and past events, like the Partition of India in 1947 and the large-scale separation of families.
• India played a significant role in the creation of independent Bangladesh during the 1971 Liberation War and was the first country to acknowledge Bangladesh as a distinct nation.
• Bangladesh celebrates its liberation day on 16th December, known as "Vijay Diwas" in India.
• The bond between India and Bangladesh is strengthened by shared sacrifices.
• The Indian Prime Minister recently described the current state of their relationship as a "Golden Phase".

What is the significance of Bangladesh to India?

Bangladesh is important to India for several reasons, including

• Geopolitical: Bangladesh is near India and they share a long land, river, and sea border. This is crucial for India's safety and foreign relations. For instance, India requires Bangladesh's help to counter the Chinese 'String of Pearls.' 
• Economic: India and Bangladesh have strong economic connections, with India being one of Bangladesh's biggest trade partners. For instance, in 2021-2022, their trade was worth USD 18.2 billion. 
• Cultural: India and Bangladesh have a common past, culture, and legacy. The citizens of both nations have deep cultural and family bonds, and there is a significant Indian community residing in Bangladesh. 
• Strategic: Bangladesh sits at the junction of South Asia and Southeast Asia, playing a key role in India's Act East Policy, which aims to strengthen relations with Southeast Asian nations. 
• Environmental concerns: Bangladesh and India have shared rivers and ecosystems, making it vital for both countries to collaborate on issues like water management and flood prevention. For example, joint efforts are necessary for the preservation of the Sunderbans. 

What are the areas of cooperation between India and Bangladesh?

 Economic and Commercial

• India and Bangladesh are important trade partners in South Asia.
• Trade between the two countries has grown steadily, with Bangladesh's exports tripling to over $1 billion in 2018-19.

Connectivity

• Efforts are being made to restore old rail and connectivity links between India and Bangladesh.
• In 2021, a railway link between Chilahati (Bangladesh) and Haldibari (India) was reopened.
• Increased frequency of passenger trains like Maitree Express and Bandhan Express for better people-to-people contact.
• Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade (PIWTT) signed to facilitate goods transportation and maintain navigable waterways.
• Agartala - Akhaura Rail Link to connect Agartala (Tripura) and Akhaura (Bangladesh), marking the first train from northeastern India to Bangladesh.

Development Partnership

• Bangladesh is a major development partner of India, with significant lines of credit extended for infrastructure development since 2010.

Capacity Building and Human Resource Development

• India focuses on human resource development in Bangladesh through training programs and scholarships.

Cultural Cooperation

• Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre in Dhaka promotes cultural ties through various programs like Yoga, dance, language, and music.

Defence Cooperation

• Cooperation includes joint exercises, meetings, and dialogues to strengthen defense ties.

Countering China's Influence 

• Efforts to enhance ties with Bangladesh to counter China's influence through various support measures.

Water Sharing 

• Kushiyara Pact ensures shared water resources between India and Bangladesh.

Border Cooperation 

• Border haats established as trading posts along the Bangladesh-India border, like Kamalasagar-Tarapur Border Haat in Tripura-Bangladesh border.

Multilateral Cooperation 

• Cooperation in regional and international platforms such as SAARC, BIMSTEC, etc.

Energy 

• Joint efforts in constructing the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant in Bangladesh through India-Russia collaboration.

Cooperation on the Rohingya Crisis 

• India's relief assistance for refugee camps in Bangladesh.

What are the existing challenges in India-Bangladesh relations?

India-Bangladesh relations have been generally cordial, but there are a few challenges, including

Geopolitical challenges:

• Disputes over shared borders in places like Assam and Tripura.
• Illegal immigration from Bangladesh causing issues in Indian bordering states.

Economic challenges:

• Both countries facing non-tariff barriers hindering trade.
• Disagreements over river water sharing.

Connectivity challenges:

• Long-standing tensions along the Bangladesh-India border.
• Lack of infrastructure affecting economic ties.

Security challenges:

• Issues of terrorism and insurgency between the two countries.
• Growing Chinese investments in Bangladesh.

Energy challenges:

• Disputes over water sharing of common rivers like the Brahmaputra and the Ganges.
• Disagreements over river water distribution like the Teesta river dispute and Farakka barrage dispute.

What measures could enhance Indo-Bangladesh relations?

The present issues in the India-Bangladesh relationship can be resolved through the following measures:

• Addressing the Teesta river water dispute: To come to an agreement about how to share the water of the Teesta river and reach a decision in a timely manner.
• Better connectivity: Improving how well the different places are connected by working together on coastal connections, roads, railways, and inland water routes.
• Energy security: With the global energy problem getting worse, it's really important for India and Bangladesh to work together to use clean and green energy so that South Asia can produce its own energy.
• India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline: This pipeline, which moves high-speed diesel from India to Northern Bangladesh, needs to be sped up.
• Shifting focus to Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) negotiations since 2018: This will make the economic bond between India and Bangladesh stronger.
• Countering China: Helping Bangladesh with important technologies and money will make India's connection with Bangladesh stronger and help India stand up to China more.
• Tackling the refugee Crisis: India and Bangladesh can work together to get other South Asian countries in the South Asia Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) to create a plan for how to deal with refugees, deciding who is a refugee and who is just moving for work reasons.

Previous Year Questions(PYQs)

Mains

 Q) The protests in Shahbag Square in Dhaka in Bangladesh reveal a fundamental split in society between the nationalists and Islamic forces. What is its significance for India? (2013)

Prelims

 Q) Consider the following statements: (2020)

1. The value of Indo-Sri Lanka trade has consistently increased in the last decade.

2. “Textile and textile articles” constitute an important item of trade between India and Bangladesh.

3. In the last five years, Nepal has been the largest trading partner of India in South Asia.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Ans:- (b) 2 only