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Bangladesh-India Partnership: A Bastion of Regional Stability in South Asia

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 India was one of the first countries to establish bilateral diplomatic ties with Bangladesh. With the recognition of independence of Bangladesh on December 6, 1971, this relation was born out of Bangladesh’s liberation struggle against the oppressive force of Pakistan.

The year 2021 marks the glorious 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between both states which is also the golden jubilee of Bangladesh’s independence from Pakistan.

Bangladesh and India celebrate their tremendous efforts of being ‘trusted friends’ over the years. Both the countries decided to commemorate December 6 as ‘Maitri Diwas’ (Friendship Day) during the visit of Indian Prime Minister Modi on the occasion of golden jubilee of Bangladesh in March 2021. The bilateral partnership has flourished every aspect of cooperation from trade to energy, security to connectivity. The magnitude of friendship and partnership between Bangladesh India over the past decade has contributed to a paradigm shift in their bilateral relations. Many analysts term the relationship as a model for other countries in South Asia and beyond.

Bangladesh and India share a 4,096 km-long international border, the fifth-longest land border in the world, being the neighbouring state and the liberation wartime ally, Bangladesh considers bond with India is inscribed in blood, which is hard to shake. However, this bond faced strategic changes with the regime change in Bangladesh started from 1975 after the assassination of Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, as the period before that was known as ‘honeymoon period’ (1971-1975) of the relations.

After that, Bangladesh experienced military regimes which ended the honeymoon period. During the period of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in 2001, the relations further took a downturn due to its anti-India posturing. Later, it started to improve when Sheikh Hasina led- Awami League government came to power.

In 2010, Hasina visited New Delhi to build a ‘stable and fruitful relationship’, and both the nations sought to address cross-border terrorism and India’s connectivity with Bangladesh through the northeast region. In a joint communique, the two Prime Ministers shared vision for the future which would include cooperation in water resources, power, transportation, connectivity, tourism, and education. Later on in 2013, a credit line of $800 million was extended by the Manmohan Singh government and ‘Maitreyi express’ was revived between Kolkata and Dhaka that operationalises the bus services in these routes.

In 2017, Sheikh Hasina visited New Delhi and the result was dozens of agreements being signed concerning trade, transport, energy as well as counterterrorism. The bilateral trade of India with Bangladesh steadily improved over the years, as it was about $6 billion in 2015-16 and crossed the landmark $10 billion in 2018-19. Hence, trade relations strengthened between the two nations and Bangladesh is India’s largest trading partner in South Asia with the total bilateral trade between the two nations standing at $9.5 billion in 2019-20.

Not only economic ties, but also India’s shared cooperation with Bangladesh in the areas of security, counter-terrorism, anti-radicalisation, energy, advanced tech, ecology, vaccines would contribute largely in the South Asian regional stability. South Asian region is at cross-roads due to a new geopolitical landscape, looming economic crisis, and security challenges triggered by Afghanistan situation, Pakistan crisis and Sri Lanka crisis. The impact of the Ukraine War, threats of terrorism and radicalization and bilateral conflicts has further caused regional instability in South Asia. In this context, bilateral partnership between Bangladesh and India is critical from a regional perspective.

Bangladesh-India Partnership: An Epitome of Regional Cooperation

Undoubtedly, in South Asia, the partnership that exists between Bangladesh and India is an exemplary one. Starting from the trade partnership to security cooperation, both the countries enjoy the support of each other and can negotiate in areas like land boundary, connectivity, trade deficits, water problem and maritime disputes. Bangladesh and India enjoy benefits from bilateral cooperation in a win-win situation in the areas of economy, security, trade, ports, energy, investment, social links, and transit issues.

Economic Cooperation

Both Bangladesh and India consider each other as one of the vital trading partners. India is the second largest trade partner of Bangladesh. Bangladesh’s share in India’s export increased from 1.4 per cent in 2010 to 3.5 per cent in 2021. India’s share in Bangladesh’s goods exports stood at 3.3 per cent. Being part of South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA), both the countries get preferential treatments in case of tariff concessions in their respective markets. Bangladesh is by far the largest trading partner for India in South Asia, which portrays the positive economic cooperation that exists between both states. This cooperation is significant in a region like South Asia to deepen mutual understanding that would develop the region gradually as an integrated, secured and self-sufficient unit.

Security Relations

The security and military ties of the two countries were established in 1971 during the glorious days of Liberation War of Bangladesh when India actively provided its military support. The partnership between the two nations pioneered extraordinary level of security cooperation during the Bangabandhu government, 1972-1975 which discontinued with the tragedy of assassination of Bangabandhu on August 15, 1975. The security cooperation revived based on mutual understand during the Sheikh Hasina government first in 1996-2001 and then 2009-present.

In 2015, during Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Bangladesh, both the countries agreed on joint coast guards in view of combating piracy and enhancing maritime security in the Bay of Bengal region.

Hasina and Modi held a dialogue on “regional security and cooperation in combating international terrorism.” Both countries’ higher officials signed a variety of agreement including cyber security, defence, connectivity, energy, and a civil nuclear cooperation.

The signing of memorandum of understanding (MoU) on defence cooperation during the visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to New Delhi in 2017 is another milestone in security cooperation. These agreements are not only crucial to maintain bilateral peace but also required for maintaining regional stability in South Asia. As Pakistan in the region is more known to support and breed terrorism, terrorist activities, a stronger Bangladesh-India military cooperation would strengthen their security by countering any military or terrorist threats.

Recent Developments in their Relations

In June 2015, Premiers of both countries implemented the long awaited ‘Land Boundary Agreement’ and settled boundary disputes, hence 50,000 people living in the border enclaves received their identity. This agreement was termed ‘historic milestone’. The disputed land areas were source of human trafficking, illicit migration, smuggling, hubs of terrorists, which were overall a threat for regional stability. With the combined efforts of Bangladesh and India, a proper solution was made.

The maritime boundary dispute in the Bay of Bengal between Bangladesh and India were solved in 2014. The resolution of the dispute was a win-win arrangement for both the countries. Bangladesh is also a part of BBIN (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal), a sub-regional initiative that is motivated to improve connectivity and economic development among the member states.

Though the regional initiatives in South Asia gained less traction previously, still India proposed this multilateral initiative with the intention of strategic connection and cooperation where Bangladesh plays a significant role. An agreement in the sector of connectivity would ease channels for carrying trade across these states. India’s core foreign policy focus on the ‘Neighbourhood First’ reminds them to connect neighbouring states, Bangladesh-India relation is an example of this and it leverages the entire region as a whole.

The proposed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between the two nations is one of the agreements that both the countries are prioritizing. In March 2021, two states agreed to enhance trade under this agreement with a need for the removal of non-tariff barriers, need for predictability of trade policies, regulations and procedures. This is mutually beneficial for a rising economy like Bangladesh and a prospering India, which sets a ‘benchmark of relation’ in South Asia, that overall contributes in a stable regional progress.

Leading to the Regional Stability in South Asia

South Asian region had been more contentious in terms of regional cooperation and stability, than any other regions in the world. A region having two arch-rivals India and Pakistan on one hand and the other smaller economies like Nepal, Bhutan on the other hand makes it difficult for consensus building, policy preparations.

Hence, to succeed initiatives like BBIN and BIMSTEC, bilateral cooperation between Bangladesh and India would strengthen regional integrity in terms of economic, connectivity, security and socio-cultural issues. To revive the historical economic connections, eight Border Haats have been set along Bangladesh’s borders with Meghalaya and Tripura. Indian concern about using Bangladesh territory as a base by the insurgent groups of its North-eastern states, was largely mitigated by the stern actions taken by Sheikh Hasina government in Bangladesh. The Hasina government also increased border monitoring to arrest any smuggling efforts for the insurgents in the Northeastern states of India. With these actions from Bangladesh, terrorism, smuggling, human trafficking, arms trade came to a check across the borders that not only serve these two states but also security concerns of the region. Hence, it’s an example for other neighbouring states to build a win-win advantageous bilateral relations based on trust and collaboration to advance the vision of a stable South Asia.

With such a bonhomie, scholars argue the ‘honeymoon period has returned’ for Bangladesh-India, which is actually a fact. In terms of connectivity, energy sectors, investments in Bangladesh initially in the garments, textiles and telecom sectors and are now expanding steadily into the power and infrastructure, Bangladesh government also allocated a special economic zone in the country for Indian entrepreneurs. These advancements crafted the pathway for deep bilateral engagements, sub-regional progress through BIMSTEC, BBIN which would contribute to the regional stability.

Finally, the relation between Bangladesh and India is time tested, a bond that is built with the struggles and blood. Bangladesh, particularly the current government of Sheikh Hasina is maintaining a deeper tie with their neighbours state India, which now reached a new height in terms of economic, security, energy, connectivity, bilateral and sub-regional cooperation. There are also new sectors of cooperation between the two countries, and they already revived the ‘golden era’ of friendship.

From a South Asian regional perspective, the domino effect of this partnership or relation is positively felt by the other neighbouring states, eventually the whole region marked by stability and peace. This partnership is thus, works more as a bastion of equilibrium, balance and stability in the construction of a peaceful region through negating terrorism, cross-border arms trade, human trafficking, smuggling, and insurgent activities. More the countries learn from the exemplary and celebrated Bangladesh-India partnership in the South Asian region, better they would be able to reciprocate and act on it to create an integrated stable region.

International News

‘This was a terror attack, plain and simple’, US House Committee slams NYT’s Pahalgam report

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New Delhi, April 25: The US government has slammed a prominent American media organisation for its coverage of the April 22 terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, where 26 people were brutally killed.

The US House Foreign Affairs Committee sharply criticised The New York Times, accusing it of downplaying the gravity of the incident by using terms like “militants” and “gunmen” instead of “terrorists”.

In a post on X, the Committee rebuked the newspaper’s use of words, sharing an image of the original headline — “At Least 24 Tourists Gunned Down by Militants in Kashmir” — with the word “militants” struck out and replaced in bold red with “terrorists”.

“Hey, @nytimes we fixed it for you. This was a TERRORIST ATTACK plain and simple. Whether it’s India or Israel, when it comes to TERRORISM the NYT is removed from reality,” the US Committee wrote.

This, perhaps, unprecedented reaction comes in the wake of the brutal terror attack in J&K’s Pahalgam, where Hindus were singled out and shot dead. The attack was later claimed by ‘The Resistance Front’ — an offshoot of the banned Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba.

Terrorists opened fire on a group of tourists in the Baisaran Valley, killing 26 and injuring several others. The casualties also included a Nepali tourist. Visuals from the scene have flooded various media, showing chaos and panic, with some of the attackers captured on video firing indiscriminately.

The New York Times, in its report, referred to the terrorists as “militants” and “gunmen”, noting that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi “called the shooting, the worst against civilians in the region for years, a ‘terror attack’ and vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice”. The framing of the attack as merely a “shooting” has drawn strong objections from several quarters of the US government.

On Wednesday, President Donald Trump called Prime Minister Modi to express his condolences and offer full support in bringing the perpetrators to justice.

“President Trump strongly condemned the terror attack and expressed full support to India to bring to justice the perpetrators of this heinous attack. India and the United States stand together in the fight against terror,” said Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, in a post on X.

US Vice President JD Vance also called PM Modi, condemning the terror attack and reiterated solidarity with India in its fight against terrorism.

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India leverages water resources as strategic tool to tighten noose around ‘rogue state’ Pakistan

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New Delhi, April 24: India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) is not only morally justified in light of continuing cross-border terrorism but also legally defensible due to repeated procedural violations by Pakistan, several experts reckoned on Thursday.

The action, they said, is a sovereign right exercised to protect national interest, security, and the integrity of international agreements, which depend on reciprocity and mutual adherence.

“​This step signals that while India has always honoured its international commitments, it will not be taken for granted when the other party – a rogue state like Pakistan – repeatedly breaches the spirit and terms of the agreement,” an analyst opined.

Under the Indus Waters Treaty signed between India and Pakistan in 1960, waters of three rivers – Ravi, Sutlej and Beas – averaging around 33 Million Acre Feet (MAF) were allocated to India for exclusive use. The waters of Western rivers – Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab – averaging to around 135 MAF were allocated to Pakistan except for specified domestic, non-consumptive and agricultural use permitted to India as provided in the Treaty.

Last August, India had served a formal notice to Pakistan seeking a review and modification of the IWT citing “fundamental and unforeseen changes in circumstances” that require a reassessment of obligations.

In the notice, India had highlighted that, under Article XII(3) of the IWT, its provision may from time to time be modified by a duly ratified Treaty concluded for that purpose between the two governments.

India’s notification highlighted fundamental and unforeseen changes in circumstances that require a reassessment of obligations under various Articles of the Treaty. Among various concerns, important ones included change in population demographics; environmental issues – need to accelerate development of clean energy to meet India’s emission targets; impact of persistent cross border terrorism, etc.

However, despite India’s repeated warnings, Pakistan was involved in serious violation of treaty protocols.

The eventual suspension of the treaty came only after persistent violations and was triggered further by national security threats, such as Tuesday’s Pahalgam terror attack, which has claimed 26 innocent lives.

The most critical breach occurred in 2016, when Pakistan unilaterally bypassed the treaty’s graded mechanism of dispute resolution outlined under Article IX of the IWT. This article mandates a stepwise escalation — from technical discussions to neutral expert adjudication and finally, if needed, to a Court of Arbitration.

In 2015, Pakistan initially requested a neutral expert to examine technical objections to India’s Kishanganga and Ratle Hydro Electric Projects. However, it withdrew this request next year and unilaterally approached the Court of Arbitration, violating the agreed dispute-resolution protocol. This deliberate deviation undermined the legal sanctity of the treaty and indicated a pattern of weaponizing legal mechanisms for political ends.

Recognising this breach, India issued a formal notice to Pakistan on January 25, 2023, calling for the modification of the treaty to ensure that the dispute resolution process could no longer be exploited unilaterally. ​By exhausting diplomatic options and adhering to procedural fairness, India demonstrated responsibility and restraint.

​Pakistan has also invoked the treaty’s dispute resolution provisions three times, not always in good faith.

The first instance involved objections to a hydropower project on the Chenab River in India-administered Kashmir. While Pakistan raised concerns that the project could give Indian engineers undue control over river flows, the World Bank-appointed neutral expert ruled in favour of India in 2007, validating the project’s design and sediment management as being in line with international best practices.

India has already set the stage to tighten the noose around Pakistan with several projects.

The Kishanganga Hydroelectric Project on a tributary of the Jhelum was commissioned in 2018 and diverts water from the Kishanganga River to a power plant in the Jhelum basin via a 23 km tunnel.

The Ratle Hydroelectric Project on Chenab was revived in 2021 with an 850 MW capacity as Pakistan raised concerns over potential flow manipulation.

The Tulbul Navigation Project on Jhelum was also never really off the table since the Uri attack in 2016 and can regulate water flow through a navigational lock-cum-control structure.

The Shahpurkandi Dam on Ravi was cleared in 2018 and completed in early 2024. It blocks surplus water from flowing into Pakistan, enhancing irrigation and power generation in India.

Similarly, the Ujh Multipurpose Project on a tributary of the Ravi, which was announced in 2020 is currently in the planning stage, combines storage, irrigation, and hydroelectric goals to cut off water flow to Pakistan.

It clearly shows that the IWT may only be temporarily suspended but the pressure is already building on Pakistan.

These developments clearly indicate a concerted effort by India to leverage water resources as a strategic tool in its geopolitical stance towards Pakistan and can have serious implications for the terror sponsors across the border.

Pakistan relies heavily on the Indus River system for irrigation, with about 80 per cent of its cultivated land – approximately 16 million hectares – depending on these waters. The agricultural sector contributes 23 per cent to Pakistan’s national income and supports 68 per cent of its rural inhabitants. Reduced water availability could lead to lower crop yields, food shortages, and economic instability.

The Indus basin also supplies 154.3 million acre-feet of water annually, which is vital for irrigating extensive agricultural areas and ensuring food security. Pakistan’s water storage capacity is low, with major dams like Mangla and Tarbela having a combined live storage of only about 14.4 MAF, which is just 10 per cent of Pakistan’s annual water share under the treaty. The suspension exacerbates these vulnerabilities by cutting off a guaranteed water supply.

The suspension of the IWT will also have significant economic implications for Pakistan, particularly in the agricultural and industrial sectors. It may also affect the country’s power generation capabilities, as hydropower is a crucial source of electricity.

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Vile, senseless act: Global condemnation pours after Pahalgam terror attack (Ld)

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New Delhi, April 23: Condolences poured in from across the globe following the ghastly Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir that left 16 dead and dozens injured.

The attack, which occurred on Tuesday in the picturesque Baisaran Valley, saw terrorists emerge from surrounding forests and indiscriminately open fire on a group of tourists, leaving dozens injured in addition to the fatalities.

Unequivocally condemning the barbaric attack on innocent tourists, Nepal said that it stands in steadfast solidarity with the Government and people of India in this time of sorrow.

The Foreign Ministry of Nepal stated, “We extend our deepest condolences to the bereaved families and express our sincere wishes for the swift and full recovery of those injured.”

“In line with our firm and principled position, Nepal condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and believes that such heinous acts of terrorism cannot and should not be justified on any ground,” the ministry added.

Meanwhile, Nepal’s Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba took to her social media and expressed deep shock and sadness at the heinous terrorist attack that took place in Pahalgam, Kashmir.

“We strongly condemn this act of terrorism and the senseless violence that has claimed innocent lives. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families during this difficult time, and we wish a swift and full recovery to those who have been injured. Nepal stands in steadfast solidarity with the Government and people of India in this time of sorrow,” she posted

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also condemned the horrific terror attack, stating that violence can not be justified.

“I am shocked by the horrific terror attack on innocent civilians in Jammu and Kashmir overnight. There is no justification for this violence, and Australia condemns it. Our hearts go out to the injured, to those mourning loved ones, and to everyone in Australia touched by this terrible news.”

Calling the horrific attack in Kashmir “utterly devastating,” UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer took to social media and posted, “The horrific terrorist attack in Kashmir is utterly devastating. My thoughts are with those affected, their loved ones, and the people of India.”

President of the EU Commission Ursula von der Leyen also offered her deepest condolences over the “vile” terror attack.

“The vile terror attack in Pahalgam today stole so many innocent lives. My deepest condolences to PM Narendra Modi and every Indian heart grieving today. Yet I know that India’s spirit is unbreakable. You will stand strong in this ordeal. And Europe will stand with you.”

Furthermore, the Ambassador of the European Union to India, Herve Delphin, stated that the EU stands against all forms and terrorism.

“Deeply shocked & saddened by the despicable Pahalgam terrorist attack against innocent tourists. Our deepest condolences to the families of the victims & best wishes of recovery to those injured. The EU stands against all forms of terrorism.”

Ono Keiichi, Ambassador of Japan to India, expressed deepest condolences and condemned the act of terrorism.

“I offer my deepest condolences to the victims of the terrorist attack in Pahalgam today. Japan strongly condemns any and all acts of terrorism. We stand firmly with India,” the Japanese Ambassador said.

Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan also extended heartfelt condolences on the terrorist attack and condemned terrorism in all its forms.

“Deeply saddened by the heinous terrorist attack in Pahalgam. I extend my heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims. Armenia strongly condemns terrorism in all its forms. Our thoughts and prayers are with the friendly people of India.”

Early reports suggest the Pakistan-based terror outfit, The Resistance Front, an offshoot of the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba, has claimed responsibility for the assault, marking one of the worst attacks in the region in recent years.

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