INTRODUCTION

The countries share a 4,100-km border and deep historical, cultural, and economic ties. A stable, prosperous and friendly Bangladesh is in India’s best interests

HOW DOES THE BANGLADESH ELECTION AFFECT INDIA? 

National Security: 

• Hasina is a very cooperative leader as far as India is concerned. She has eased India’s security burden at the border by cracking down on anti-Indian elements.                                          
• Before Hasina came to power in 2009, the previous Bangladesh Nationalist Party-led government was hostile towards India.
• It provided safe haven to numerous anti-India terrorists and also had links to Pakistan’s ISI, and gave space to hardline Islamist radicals.

The Economic perspective: 

• In 2022-23, Bangladesh was the fifth largest export destination for Indian goods, after the United States, the UAE, the Netherlands, and China.
•  In 2023, Bangladesh and India rolled out bilateral trade in Indian rupees. The market would decide on the exchange rate.

Regional & Global Cooperation:

• Dhaka hosts the secretariat of The Bay of Bengal Initiative for  Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) which connects the eastern subcontinent with Myanmar and Thailand.
• Both countries agreed to continue working together towards achieving early reforms of the UN Security Council, combating climate change, attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and protection of the rights of migrants.

Connectivity: 

• India’s pursuit of road and river transport 
• access through Bangladesh for its north-eastern states aims to reduce vulnerability in the ‘chicken’s neck’ corridor.
• Currently, three express trains and international bus services operate between Indian and Bangladesh.
• India-Bangladesh bilateral waterway trade will get boosted as India can now use the Mongla and Chittagong ports.
• Indo-Bangladesh Protocol Route: Cargo movement along the route has seen a 170% jump over a nine-year period

WHAT ARE THE CONTENDING ISSUES BETWEEN INDIA-BANGLADESH?

The China factor: 

They are Bangladesh’s largest trading partner with a positive trade balance of $56.5 Billion. Also China has   upgraded the Chittagong port and has several other investments amounting to billions.

Teesta Dispute:

Starting from India, the Teesta’s flood plains cover about 14% of the total cropped area of Bangladesh and support 7.3% of the population. However, India and Bangladesh have not reached a solution in water sharing mainly due to opposition from the West Bengal government.

National Registry for Citizens: 

In 2019, India enacted the CAA and possible NRC and this created an uproar with the Bangladeshi government terming the move as “unnecessary”.

India’s FDI policy: 

India’s Consolidated FDI policy of 2017 (revised in 2020) had put Bangladesh in the same category as Pakistan. Under this, a citizen of Bangladesh/Pakistan or an entity incorporated in Bangladesh/Pakistan can invest only under the Government route.

Dip in trade:

Despite talks, both countries as of now do not have a Free Trade Agreement and are seeing a dip in trade.

WHAT ARE THE MEASURES TO BE TAKEN TO STRENGTHEN THE FRIENDSHIP?

Water Sharing: 

The political differences must be kept aside and genuine concerns addressed between the Centre and the state of West Bengal.

Geopolitics: 

India and Bangladesh must respect each other's aspirations and maintain that no third country will manipulate the good relations with each other.

Trade agreement: 

The talks on signing a free trade agreement- CEPA (Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement) must become a reality to improve the economic ties.

The Refugee crisis:

The illegal migrants from Bangladesh to North Eastern states of India are creating tensions. Both countries must come to a treaty on the Refugee issue, mainly the Rohingya issue - The longstanding tensions between the ethnic group of Rohingyas, living in the Rakhine state of western Myanmar, who are mainly Muslim, and Myanmar’s nationalists, who are primarily Buddhist. 

CONCLUSION

India and Bangladesh have shown a resilient relationship for about 50 years. It is time for both the countries to empower the mutual trust and love that can provide the ecosystem for nurturing growth and stability for the upcoming decades.

Keywords:
india bangladesh