India-Bangladesh Relations: SSB Interview Lecturette Topic 2023

India and Bangladesh have a distinct and complicated history that is rooted in shared geography and cultural ties. While their relationship has been marred by conflict and mistrust at times,...

Siddhant Sandhu
April 11, 2023
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India and Bangladesh have a distinct and complicated history that is rooted in shared geography and cultural ties. While their relationship has been marred by conflict and mistrust at times, both countries have made significant strides in recent years toward establishing a strong and cooperative partnership. With a 4,000-kilometer shared border, India and Bangladesh have a strong interest in promoting stability, economic development, and regional integration.

India Bangladesh Relations SSB Interview Lecturette Topic 2023

Recently the 130-kilometer-long India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline (IBFPL) project was launched in February 2023, which will transport oil from India to Bangladesh. The project is expected to boost long-term economic growth, strengthen relationships between India and Bangladesh, and aid in the management of the country’s current fuel crisis. International Relations is a very hot topic and accessors at the SSB always ask about such topics. In this article, we will learn about India-Bangladesh Relations which can be asked in your SSB Interview whether in Lecturette or SSB Interview or even in the form of GD.

India-Bangladesh relations

India supported the East Pakistan Independence Movement, which resulted in Bangladesh’s independence from Pakistan in 1971.
India and Bangladesh signed several treaties to strengthen relations, including the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy (2011), which ensures the peaceful use of nuclear power.
Both countries have a long history of economic cooperation with one another and have strong ties in every field.
India and Bangladesh share a land border that is 4096 kilometers long, making it the world’s fifth longest.
Bangladesh is direct to the south of India’s Siliguri Corridor, which connects India’s northeastern states. This corridor is also known as the “Chicken’s Neck” because it is only 27 kilometers wide, making it an easy choke point for China to exploit. Bangladesh offers India an alternative trade and commerce route to the northeastern states.
Bangladesh is an important partner in ensuring regional security and stability, particularly in the fight against terrorism.
This security cooperation is also important for Bangladesh because it contributes to regional stability and security, which is critical for Bangladesh’s economic growth and development.
India is one of Bangladesh’s largest suppliers of energy, food, financial assistance, and foreign investment.
Both countries are members of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), and the Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IORA).

The Siliguri Corridor Indias chickens neck 1

Challenges

The import of Chinese military equipment, including submarines, by Bangladesh, is a major source of concern for India’s national security.
Several river disputes exist between India and Bangladesh, particularly along the Ganga and Brahmaputra rivers.
India has been concerned about illegal migration from Bangladesh. Furthermore, Bangladesh rejects the National Register of Citizens (NRC), which contains the names of genuine Indian citizens.
Several projects committed to by India in Bangladesh have been severely delayed, creating a lack of trust in India and a vacuum for China to enter and increase its influence in Bangladesh.
Bangladesh is an active participant in China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which is a source of concern for India.

Current Development

In 2021-22, India’s trade with Bangladesh will reach $18.2 billion, making Bangladesh India’s largest trading partner in South Asia.
Bangladesh is India’s ninth-largest export destination.
Bangladesh accounts for half of all health tourism in India.
When it trades with India, Bangladesh also enjoys duty-free access on all tariff lines except tobacco and alcohol.
India is collaborating with Russia to build Bangladesh’s first nuclear power plant.
Multiple power and Internet service agreements have been signed between India and Bangladesh, including the IBFPL project and the Bahrampur-Bheramaram Interconnection, through which India supplies 500 MW of power to Bangladesh.
Over the last several years, India has provided approximately $8 billion in development assistance to Bangladesh.
To improve cooperation in the hydrocarbon sector, India and Bangladesh have signed a number of partnership agreements, including the Framework of Understanding (FOU) on Cooperation in the Hydrocarbon Sector.

Way Forward

Bangladesh is expected to move from Less Developed Country (LDC) status to Developing Country status by 2026. This effectively ends the WTO benefits for LDC status. This will allow India to strengthen its economic ties with Bangladesh.
In 2011, India and Bangladesh signed the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which goes beyond traditional FTAs and expands cooperation across multiple sectors. The issue is that neither country has fully implemented the agreement. India should concentrate on completing its implementation as soon as possible.
Both countries should collaborate to resolve their numerous disputes through diplomatic talks and negotiations.

Conclusion

Historically, India and Bangladesh have had a strong relationship based on cultural, historical, and economic ties. India and Bangladesh have been working to increase bilateral trade and investment, and there is still significant room for expansion. There is significant potential for the two countries to continue to strengthen their relationship and promote economic development in the region through sustained effort and cooperation on both sides.

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