India holds a unique distinction in the history of the liberation of Bangladesh. The landmark victory day of 16 December 1971 had witnessed unprecedented surrender of Pak military commander Lt. Gen. A.A.K. Niazi along with more than 90000 armed forces personnel following decisive victory of the Indian armed forces and Mukti Bahini of Bangladesh. The people of Bangladesh (erstwhile East Pakistan) had continuously faced huge discrimination imposed by the civil and military establishment since the creation of Pakistan in 1947. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was denied Prime Ministership of the country despite gaining clear mandate in the general elections held in 1970. Consequences to the nationwide protest, Sheikh Mujib was arrested and as brutal revenge, Pakistan army had launched a massive genocide in East Pakistan which had resulted in surge of more than 10 million refugees into India. Following turmoil, Bangladesh declared its independence on 26 March 1971. The very first government was headed by Sheikh Mujib in exile. Since then, India has been pivotal to support, promote and develop Bangladesh as a nation till date. However, there has been significant shift in the policies of Bangladesh at numerous occasions from pro-India to China and fundamentalist Islamic country-centric policies during the regimen of right wing activist and Bangladesh Nationalist Party under the leadership of Lt. General Ziaur Rahman in 1977-81 and Khaleda Zia in 1991 to 1996 and again from 2001 to 2006. Sheikh Mujib’s Awami League party under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina has been consentient towards India-centric policies in her both tenures of inclusive first term from June 1996 to July 2001 and during current regimen since 2009. However, the recent past has witnessed a paradigm shift in the policies of Bangladesh to follow balancing act between India and China. Bangladesh and India are common members of SAARC, Commonwealth, BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) and, IORA (Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) and other regional groups of common interest.
The present regimes in both the countries are committed to handle long standing bilateral issues with sincere aim to strengthen relations. Both the countries had inked historic Ganges water sharing treaty. Boundary dispute linked with Teen Bigha Corridor has been resolved in 2011 by the exchange of land enclaves and population engaged in over 24000 acres that had pawed way for the better harmony and mutual understanding among both the countries. India and Bangladesh have granted mutual and special status to each other in various common areas of interest including trade, energy, transportation, industries, infrastructure development and cultural activities.
India had extended US$ 750 million loan in 2011 and another financial loan of US$ 1 billion in 2014, the largest ever financial soft loan by India to any other country to boost infrastructure development. Indo-Bangladesh trade has attained more than US$ 11 billion with substantial growth in recent past. Both nations signed an agreement of sharing land and water routes for transportation of goods to the third country. Under this provision, Indian shipments can go to Myanmar through Bangladesh. In turn, Bangladesh will be able to transport goods to Nepal through India. In a landmark decision, India and Bangladesh have developed a framework to share and exchange natural water resources of six rivers from West Bengal, Tripura and Dharla river from Bangladesh.
India had supported vaccination drive in Bangladesh during Covid pandemic whereas Bangladesh had provided equipment, PPE kits and Remdesivir as a goodwill gesture. Despite significant enhancement in diplomatic relations, China has adopted policy to engage Bangladesh in a very systematic way to influence its policy inclined towards their strategic gains by enhancing trade, revival of Maritime Silk route and One Belt one Road infrastructure growth in Bangladesh. At present, China has investments of more than US$ 1.20 billion. China has developed strong military ties with Bangladesh in recent past especially during BNP regimen before the present government came into the power. Bangladesh is the second largest importer of weaponries from China after Pakistan.
Despite dependence on China for its military needs, Bangladesh is inclined to strengthen military cooperation, enhance SAARC and military medical diplomacy with India. India extended military training health and medical education facilities to the Bangladesh Army. A joint military exercise Sampriti-II was conducted in 2011 in Bangladesh. India should extend facilities of defence production, missile, warships and space technology to Bangladesh in future. Both countries have initiated Maritime Security Partnerships by a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) pertains to the establishment of a Coastal Surveillance Radar System in Chiitagong and Mongla Ports in Bangladesh . Communication network of India will provide excellent meteorological navigation and cyber connectivity to the Bangladesh .Hence a robust system of bilateral military cooperation will lead to establish repo in logistics, intelligence, training, surveillance and space technology between both the countries. Terror and illegal migration of Rohingya Muslims from Bangladesh through porous borders is a highly problematic issue and real threat to India. Bangladesh has emerged as a hub of converging for various international terror outfits including ISIS-K, Al Qaeda, Lashkar-e-Tayyaba and shelter for many others outfits in the region. Anti-Indian agencies like ISI and Chinese outfits are engaged in stealth operation against India from Bangladesh. A nexus has been developed between external and internal terror organization like Jamaat-e-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) which is not good for both the countries. Therefore a meticulous strategy and mechanism has to be developed between two countries so as to strengthen coordination to combat against terror outfits, drugs and arms trafficking and other illegal activities. Though Bangladesh is maintaining tactical diplomacy to balance India and China, the strategic location of Bangladesh in the Indian subcontinent where it can play highly vital player in the region of bay of Bengal in the south and crucial triangle of Nepal Bhutan and corridor to the North eastern states in either way to counter or support Chinese objectives to get close access to influence India and Bhutan or to disrupt connectivity, attain dominance in the Bay of Bengal by constant surveillance and communication interceptive actions against Indian Missile and space satellite launching station located in Odisha. Bangladesh may provide vital support to China to have direct watch on Andaman-Nikobar Iceland so as to weaken Indian influence in the Indo-Pacific region. This unique geographical location of Bangladesh obviously infuses tremendous enthusiasm and keen interest to achieve strategic maritime and territorial dominance among global superpowers, including Japan, USA and China in this region.
Bangladesh needs full support of India for its growth, geopolitical security and stability, whereas India needs harmony with Bangladesh and other neighbor countries to protect its strategic, economic and territorial interest against growing intentions of China. Hence, border security management and to promote blue Economy in the domain of Bay of Bengal is very crucial and significant for peace and territorial tranquility in entire south east Asia.
Major General J.K.S. Parihar, Sena Medal, Bar to Vishisht Seva Medal (Retd), is former Additional Director General, AFMS, and an expert on defence and international strategic affairs.
