Plagued by historical animosities and domestic politics regional integration has remained a distant dream in South Asia despite huge potential opportunities for growth and collective development. Hostage to Pakistan’s belligerence and its reluctance to engage, geopolitically too, the region failed to gain strategic salience.

Raising above these self-destructive narrow sectarian differences and encumbering extremist ideologies that had debilitating influence on foreign policy, Prime Minister Modi and his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina have chartered a bold ambition for the region and envisioned to transform the bilateral ties.

As a prelude to building robust bilateral ties, in the spirit of good neighbourliness, both countries have amicably resolved territorial and maritime border issues. In 2015 countries have implemented the Land Boundary Agreement (LBA) and exchanged the enclaves. As a harbinger to realise the objective of shared destiny, Modi government launched the “Neighbourhood First Policy” to bolster the intent with determined actions and even accepted the international tribunal verdict ruled in favour of Bangladesh.

In the past couple of years, circumventing the dysfunctional SAARC, India and Bangladesh ratcheted up sub-regional cooperation under the BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) arrangement. To foster the elusive dream of regional integration which offered a plethora of lucrative economic opportunities, India proposed BBIN (Bangladesh Bhutan India Nepal) connectivity network, launched South Asia Satellite to enhance telecommunications and offered the much-needed guidance and support during the raging COVID pandemic. Besides shipping medical supplies and equipment, India pledged support and assistance in terms of capacity building through personnel training and sharing of best practices and instituted SAARC Emergency Response Fund to counter pandemic. India generously donated millions of doses of vaccine as an act of friendship to the entire region. Bangladesh has been recipient of highest doses of vaccines thus far. Among other countries in the region, Bangladesh has actively acknowledged, supported and participated in India’s initiatives for the region.

Aside the deeply entrenched historical, religious, cultural and linguistic connect, India stood should to shoulder in Bangladesh’s freedom struggle and liberated it from Pakistani exploitation. India’s Mitro Bahini fought along with Mukti Bahini of Bangladesh to carve the new state. Paying visit to Bangladesh on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee of Bangladesh’s Independence coinciding with Father of Nation Bangabhandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s birth centenary and 50^th years of diplomatic relations, Prime Minister Modi has carried message of friendship and transformative vision that can pave way for economic progress of the entire region.

India has been instrumental in creation of an independent Bangladesh from East Pakistan. The relationship forged in blood stood test of times and several turbulences under different leaderships in the past fifty years. The secular geopolitical vision suffered a sudden jolt with the assassination of Mujibur Rahman just three and half of years into Bangladesh independence. Bilateral relations took a hit under the BNP-Jamaat Coalition. Ties steadily improved with the ascendancy of the Awami League under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina.

For long, Bangladesh dismissed as a basket case, hardly received any attention from other countries. With development as priority under the leadership of Hasina, registering a consistent growth rate of 7%, Bangladesh is now at the brink of acquiring a Middle-Income country status.

With its enviable growth rates, Bangladesh is now emerging as trading hub. Besides receiving steady FDI inflows, Dhaka figured in the list of destinations recommended by Japanese government to companies trying to shift offshore business from China. Dhaka is projected to become 25^th largest economy in the World by 2035 as per UK-based Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR). Even Economic and social indicators of Bangladesh have improved significantly.

Bangladesh owes this spectacular transformation to the Hasina’s, “Charter for Change Vision 2021”, that has catapulted Dhaka from a least developed country to a developing country. She first became Prime Minister in 2001 and returned to power with a landslide in 2008.

Prioritising national interests with strategic vision and clarity of objectives, offering a stable and resolute leadership, Hasina ushered Bangladesh into a realm of prosperity. Emerging as an icon of development and change Bangladesh is now poised to become driver for regional progress as well.

Bangladesh shares over 90% of its land boundary with India. The domestic turbulences in Dhaka are bound to have spill over effects on Delhi. Stable ties with India are essential for domestic transformation. Recognising Bangladesh potential for growth, Indian leadership offered unflinching support to Hasina. As a part of larger confidence building measures, countries resolved to combat terrorism which posed threat to regional security and development. Gradually as the sense of trust began to strengthen, re-imaging the relationship that went through the torment of partition and waded through the travesty of genocide, leadership of both countries expanded the arenas of cooperation.

With re-envisioning of foreign policy, Bangladesh has now become central to India’s Neighbourhood First and Act East Policy. With the buzz words of shared prosperity and economic development, India and Bangladesh have focussed on improving the connectivity, a stepping stone for rapid growth and development in emerging economies. India’s North East which has for decades suffered the brunt of underdevelopment and neglect is now reconnected to mainland through Bangladesh.

Reviving and expediting the connectivity network in the region, Bangladesh has now emerged as gateway of India’s Act East Policy. In the process, Bangladesh has gained greater access to India’s lucrative markets. This mutually beneficial cooperation has not only enhanced trust, but also sparked innovation and entrepreneurship. Through operationalisation of inland waterways, cargo and parcel services via Railways, cross-border trade has received much needed impetus. Efforts are now on to strike a deal on cross-border trade in electricity.

Per Centre for Social and Economic Progress, Bangladesh is India’s largest export market in the region valued at $9.82 billion followed by Nepal and Sri Lanka respectively. The trade volumes are comparatively low and the benefits accrued from trade and economic cooperation are still far below the potential.

Recognising the importance of enhancing bilateral trade during his Dhaka visit, countries agreed on harmonising standards and mutual recognition of certificates and emphasized on expeditious conclusion of ongoing study for entering a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).

Thanking Modi for his first ever foreign trip during the pandemic, Hasina received Modi at the airport where Indian Prime Minister received a celebratory gun salute and guard of honour. Modi joined the National Day Program, Golden Jubliee celebrations, Mujib Barso Celebrations at the National Parade ground as the Guest of Honour. PM laid wreath at the National Martyr’s Memorial at Savar as a mark of respect to the great contribution of freedom fighters and paid rich tributes to the memory of Bangabhandhu Mujibur Rahman at the Bangabhandhu Mausoleum, Gopalganj. Modi thanked Bangladesh government for the proposal to construct memorial at Ashuganj in the memory of the valiant Indian Army personnel who laid their lives in Bangladesh Liberation war.

In recognition of the courage, and the great efforts in nurturing peace, security and development in the region, India has conferred Gandhi Peace Prize 2020 to Bangabhandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Modi personally handed over the Prize to Sheikh Hasina. Marking 50^th Anniversary of India-Bangladesh diplomatic ties both countries released commemorative stamps and decided to observe Dec 6^th as Maitri Diwas, the day when India recognised Bangladesh. Modi announced establishment of Bangabhandhu Chair at University of Delhi, 1000 Shubarno Jayanti Scholarships to Bangladeshi Students, gifted 109 ambulances to Dhaka and invited 50 Bangladesh entrepreneurs to participate in the startup innovation initiatives.

Teesta water discussions figured in the bilateral talks. India reiterated its commitment to conclude the agreement. Both countries ordered the respective water ministries to work towards early conclusion of Framework of interim agreement on water sharing of six rivers- Manu, Muhuri, Khowai, Gumti, Dharla and Dudhkumar.

India called for the early implementation of the MoU on withdrawal of 1.82 cusec water from Feni River to Tripura. Leaders directed the joint Technical Committee to commence feasibility study on Ganga-Padma barrage.

India has accepted Bangladesh’s proposal to name the road from Mujib Nagar to Nadia on the Bangladesh-India border as “Shadinota Shorok” highlighting its importance in the Bangladesh Liberation war.

Giving a fillip to connectivity, leaders have expedited the task of revitalising pre-1965 rail, road and water links. Bangladesh evinced interest to partner in the ongoing India-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral highway project. Preparing ground for the smooth launch of BBIN, Bangladesh, India and Nepal agreed to sign the early operationalisation agreement with a provision for Bhutan to join later. India and Bangladesh have discussed the possibilities of developing new road and rail routes between the three countries to commence free movement of people and goods.

Bangladesh offered to allow the use of Chattogram and Sylhet airports by people of Tripura. Dhaka granted the trans-shipment facility to India to transport goods to North Eastern States using Chattogram and Mongla ports. Sustaining the momentum of the bilateral ties, both countries expedited several infrastructure projects despite the pandemic - 5km long Indo-Bangladesh Friendship pipeline from Numaligarh to Sonapukur, Maitri Setu connecting Sambroom in Tripura to Ramgarh in Bangladesh, first ever cargo rail from Guntur in Andhra Pradesh to Benapole in Bangladesh and Akhaura-Agartala Rail link.

In a testament to the defence cooperation between two countries, 122-member Bangladesh contingent marched along with Indian troops during the 2021 Republic Day celebrations.

Countries have signed five MoUs including one between Indian National Cadet Corps and Bangladesh Cadet Corps, cooperation in the Field of Disaster Management, establishment of frame work of cooperation on trade remedial measures, supply of ICT equipment, establishment of sports facilities. The visit also culminated in the inauguration of three border haats, Mitali Express passenger service between Dhaka and New Jalpaiguri, fourth such passenger service between both the countries and dedication of Bapu-Bangabhadhu Digital Museum.

Among the other issues, security aspects related to maritime geography is also finding growing congruence in the Delhi-Dhaka dynamic. Conscious of its larger role in the Indo-Pacific region, which is evolving as the theatre of future geopolitical contestations, Bangladesh is playing its cards carefully. Unlike other countries in the region, refraining a tight Middle Kingdom embrace, Bangladesh is engaging with multiple partners. Wary of coercive debt trap diplomacy, Dhaka has dropped five Chinese projects worth $3.6 billion⁴ recently.

Though countries have resolved several outstanding issues- illegal migration, border killings, cross-border smuggling still remain contentious issues, leaders have agreed to harmoniously address them.  Further, radical Islamists group Hefzat-e-Islam’s violent anti-Modi protests and their targeted attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh and the scathing attacks by Modi’s political opponents for his Matua outreach through Orakandi temple visit and Jeshoreshwari Devi darshan are a stark reminder of constant challenges encountered by leaderships to realise the full potential of this partnership.

Despite these challenges, leaders of both countries have displayed stellar intent, determination and resolve to transform the partnership. Cognizant of the unique strategic opportunities, managing to put differences behind, leaders are keen on leveraging regional economic cooperation and integration to put the region on the path of progressive growth trajectory.

1. https://stratnewsglobal.com/neighbours/bangladesh/dhaka-diary/
2. https://www.mea.gov.in/bilateral-documents.htm?dtl/33746/Joint+Statement+issued+on+the+occasion+of+the+visit+of+Prime+Minister+of+India+to+Bangladesh
3. https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/modi-hasina-launch-new-passenger-train-between-india-and-bangladesh-121032700877_1.html
4. https://www.thedailystar.net/business/news/36b-chinese-loan-uncertain-after-dhaka-drops-projects-agreed-list-2054613

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