BANGLADESH鈥橲 prime minister Sheikh Hasina went to India on a two-day state visit at the invitation of India鈥檚 prime minister Narendra Modi. This marked the inaugural visit of a foreign leader to India following the formation of India鈥檚 new government. The two countries share a 4,096.7-kilometre land border and have a strong relationship that has grown rapidly over the past decade. India was the first country to recognise Bangladesh as an independent state and established diplomatic relations immediately after its liberation in 1971. The purpose of Sheikh Hasina鈥檚 state visit was to reaffirm the strong relations between the two countries.
During her visit, several memorandums of understanding were signed, focusing on areas such as maritime security, ocean economy, space technology, rail connectivity and telecommunications. Additionally, the renewal of three memorandums in disaster management, fisheries, and health sectors took place. However, the main opposition, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party鈥檚 secretary general Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has said the memorandums and agreements signed with India are 鈥榓gainst the country鈥檚 interest.鈥�
Since 2019, the two countries have had frequent high-level political engagements, with Sheikh Hasina and Narendra Modi meeting, in person and virtually, around 10 times.
They celebrated the 50th anniversary of Bangladesh鈥檚 independence and diplomatic relations in March 2021. At the invitation of Sheikh Hasina, Narendra Modi joined the celebrations and observed, 鈥榃e are committed to further deepening and diversifying our relations.鈥� In response, Sheikh Hasina highlighted the important contributions of the people and the government of India to the liberation war of Bangladesh in 1971. A joint statement delivered after Modi鈥檚 formal visit affirmed that bilateral relations were relishing a 鈥榮onali adhhyay鈥� (a golden chapter). Both the leaders expressed their commitment to deepening and diversifying the relationship.
In November 2023, the prime ministers of both the countries inaugurated three Indian-sponsored development projects through video-conferencing, including a cross-border rail link and a port rail line. They also jointly launched a restored rail line between Chilahati and Haldibari in December 2020, which facilitates transit to Assam and West Bengal through Bangladesh. Additionally, the two countries resolved a long-standing dispute through the historic Land Boundary Agreement in 2015, which involved the mutual transfer of enclaves between them.
Trade between Bangladesh and India has been strong in recent decades, with Bangladesh becoming India鈥檚 second-largest trade partner after China. In the 2019鈥�20 financial year, India鈥檚 exports to Bangladesh reached $8.2 billion, and imports were $1.26 billion, with bilateral trade hitting $15.9 billion in the 2022鈥�23 financial year.
India and Bangladesh have a significant trade imbalance, with India exporting goods such as cotton, sugar, vehicles, steel and aluminium to Bangladesh while importing items like cereal, cement and raw hides. Bangladesh has requested that India should withdraw anti-dumping duties on its jute exports. To reduce the trade deficit, India needs to invest more in Bangladesh and remove non-tariff barriers. China has become a major player in Bangladesh, providing tariff exemptions and significant foreign direct investment.
Security is an important aspect of the bilateral relationship, with Bangladesh actively addressing India鈥檚 security concerns and signing agreements related to cross-border crime and terrorism. Bangladesh has played a crucial role in securing India鈥檚 eastern border. Bangladesh and India have collaborated to enhance connectivity and strengthen their socio-political and economic relationships. Bangladesh has provided India with connectivity, transit and transshipment facilities, allowing Indian cargo vessels to use its ports.
An equitable sharing of the waters of the River Teesta is a major concern for Bangladesh, as nearly 21 million people in five northern districts depend on the river for their livelihood. The Hasina government has been trying to resolve the water sharing dispute with India but has been unsuccessful in influencing West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee to settle the issue. Mamata Banerjee remains vehemently opposed to a water-sharing policy with Bangladesh.
Bangladesh has decided to dredge and develop its portion of the Teesta and it has asked China to look into the project. China is ready to implement the Teesta River Comprehensive Management and Restoration Plan, which has an estimated cost of $1 billion and India has also expressed interest in financing it. However, Bangladesh government has not yet decided who will implement the project.
The unlawful killing of Bangladeshi citizens along the Bangladesh-India border is a major issue causing tension between the two countries. A rights group in Bangladesh claims that the India鈥檚 Border Security Force killed 332 Bangladeshis between 2013 and 2023, inciting anti-Indian sentiments in Bangladesh. Despite India鈥檚 assurances, the killings persist, with India alleging that such incidents occur during cross-border smuggling and trafficking. India must halt the killings to enhance its relations with Bangladesh.
Additionally, the Modi government鈥檚 pursuit of the Hindutva doctrine, as seen in the controversial National Register of Citizens and the Citizenship Amendment Act 2019, further hinders bilateral relations. The Citizenship Amendment Act provides Indian citizenship for illegal migrants from three Muslim-majority countries, excluding Muslims. This has sparked widespread criticism and protests in both countries, leading to the cancellation of visits by two Bangladeshi ministers to India.
Bangladesh has not been convinced by the Indian government鈥檚 assurance that the Citizenship Amendment Act is an internal matter and will not affect it. Indian journalist Sudha Ramachadran has stated that harmful policies towards Bangladesh and derogatory remarks by Indian ministers have damaged public goodwill towards India in Bangladesh (The Diplomat, 4 January 2021).
The Rohingya refugee crisis is a major challenge and threat to Bangladesh鈥檚 security and development. The Hasina government expected a tougher stance from India towards Myanmar to persuade it to take back the Rohingya refugees. However, during a visit to Myanmar in September 2017, Narendra Mondi did not mention the atrocities against the Rohingya. An Indian scholar, Shreya Upadhyay, in her article, 鈥淭he Future of India鈥檚 Do-nothing Policy toward the Rohingya鈥�, noted that India鈥檚 policy towards the Rohingya is cautious because of geopolitical and geo-economic concerns.
Bangladesh is the largest recipient of India鈥欌�檚 concessional credit, with over $7 billion provided since 2010 for infrastructure and development programmes. However, there have been issues with the slow disbursement of funds, delays in project approval, sluggish implementation by Indian contractors and bureaucratic complexities. Bangladesh has been advocating for the removal of the requirement to source 75 per cent of necessary goods from India in the line of credit system. India鈥檚 development cooperation efforts in Bangladesh also include human resource development, with training programmes for civil service officials, police officials and judicial officials.
Despite mutual support and expanding cooperation, Debapriya Bhattacharya, a distinguished fellow at the Centre for Policy Dialogue in Bangladesh, believes that India has an image problem in Bangladesh because of the perception that Bangladesh is not benefiting from being a good neighbour. To rebuild trust and confidence, it is important for India to address this issue. Recently, political activists and the BNP鈥檚 senior joint secretary general, Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, have called for a boycott of Indian goods to protest against India鈥檚 close ties with the ruling Awami League regime. Rizvi has also accused India of deepening ties with the Awami League, but not with Bangladeshi people.
Bangladesh is India鈥檚 most significant development partner and strongest ally in South Asia, with significant growth in political, economic and diplomatic relations over the past decade. India has gained access to Bangladesh for transporting goods to its seven north-eastern states. However, India has showed indifference and insensitivity to Bangladesh鈥檚 concerns. Bangladesh is eager to support India鈥檚 economic growth as a strategic partner. India鈥檚 support is also crucial for Bangladesh鈥檚 attainment of the developing country status in 2026. Urgent actions include resolving the Teesta dispute, investing in Bangladesh, stopping border killings, resolving the Rohingya crisis and transferring technology.
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Dr Kamal Uddin Ahmed is a former professor of political science in the University of Dhaka. He is author of Bangladesh and its Neighbours (Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, 2008).
