Question

Mention two areas each of cooperation and disagreement between India and Bangladesh

Answer 1

Since the creation of Bangladesh in 1971, both India and Bangladesh have entered into diplomatic relations, developing a new chapter in their foreign policies. In 1972, India and Bangladesh signed the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation & Peace for 25 years. The two countries mutually agreed to respect each other’s territorial integrity and strengthen bonds of cooperation in social, commercial, economic and cultural fields. However, there have been certain areas of mutual disagreement between the two nations as well.

Areas of cooperation:

a. Trade pact- A trade pact was signed between the two countries in March 1972. It resulted in the economic reconstruction of Bangladesh. Free trade up to a distance of 15 kms. has been recognized; this trade is to be free from customs duty & rules of currency. This trade can reach up to Rs. 50 crores per annum. Both the countries agreed on the mutual exchange of goods. Moreover, Bangladesh is a part of India’s Look East policy that wants to link up with Southeast Asia via Myanmar. In 1997, a meeting of the Indo-Bangladesh Joint Economic Commission was held. It agreed to step up the pace of cooperation in the domains of finance, trade, and transport and communication. Several high-level visits resulted in promoting, understanding and strengthening bilateral relations between India and Bangladesh.

b. Farakka Agreement (1977): This agreement was signed in October 1977 over the distribution of Ganga water between the two nations. The agreement expired in 1982, following which a fresh Memorandum of Understanding was signed in the same year. Agreements have also been signed in 1983 and 1986. A fresh negotiated agreement was concluded in December 1996. The treaty has been based on the principles of fairness and equity. India and Bangladesh have also established a Joint Rivers Commission to discuss water-related matters.

The relations between the two nations are on a new trajectory, more so after the establishment of democratic government in Bangladesh, with the visit of Bangladesh’s Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, in 2010 and the recent representation of Bangladesh at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s swearing-in ceremony. However, there are certain thorny issues between the two nations.

a. Illegal influx of Bangladeshi immigrants: The existence of illegal immigrants is a major issue between India and Bangladesh. Most affected by this immigration are the states of Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Tripura and West Bengal. A number of training camps for the insurgents have sprung up in Assam, Tripura and Nagaland. It is also upsetting the demographic ratio of the country, especially in Kamrup and Nalbari disricts of Assam.

b. There have been tensions between India and Bangladesh over territorial claims as well. These include the dispute over the New Moore Island, the problem related to Teen Bigha Corridor and the clash in Muhuni Char in the Belonia Sector. Towards the end of 1979, both the countries got engaged in firing at the border town of Belonia in Southern Tripura over about 45 acres of land. However, tensions soon ended. Later, Bangladesh claimed ownership of the New Moore Island in 1980 and said that it was a disputed territory

Bangladesh has also been criticised for supporting fundamentalist Islamic elements over refusal to allow Indian troops to move through its territory to North Eastern India. In April 2001, it was found that one of India’s villages was occupied and 18 officers & jawans of India’s Border Security Force were missing. This incident caused severe strains in the bilateral relations. However, dialogues and discussion with regard to security and border disputes continue to exist.