[Answered] While India-Bangladesh ties have improved a lot, there are still many long-standing pending issues, which need to be resolved for a better relationship. Comment

India played a great role in the emergence of an independent Bangladesh. Further, India was one of the first states to recognize Bangladesh as a separate nation. The relationship between India and Bangladesh is anchored in history, culture, language, and shared values of secularism, democracy, and countless other commonalities.

India-Bangladesh relationship:

• Trade relations: India exports about US$ 10 billion worth of goods to Bangladesh, which is about 15% of the total imports of Bangladesh. India imports a little over US$ 1 billion worth of goods from Bangladesh.
• Cooperation in Roadways: Both countries decided to commence bus service from/to Dhaka from/to Gangtok and Darjeeling via Siliguri.
• Assistance for Infrastructure: India is also providing grant assistance to Bangladesh for various infrastructure projects. e.g. construction of Akhaura-Agartala rail link, dredging of inland waterways in Bangladesh, and construction of India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline.
• Recently, the Maitri Setu bridgewas constructed to connect Sabroom in India with Ramgarh in Bangladesh.
• Both countries have signed several bilateral instrumentsin various sectors including hydrocarbons, agriculture, trade and development projects.
• India has been helping Bangladesh in coping with the Covid-19 pandemic by donating surgical masks, RC-PTR test kits, surgical latex gloves, vaccines etc.

Long-standing pending issues:

• Teesta Water sharing agreement: India receiving 39% of the water and Bangladesh 36% of it. The remaining 25% remain unallocated. Further negotiations between India and Bangladesh on the sharing of the river waters have made limited progress.
• Border management and illegal migration: Despite high-level talks between the two countries, the issue remains unresolved.
• Implementation of NRC: Bangladesh has raised concerns over the National Register of Citizens (NRC).
• Trade Deficit: Despite the increase in Indian exports to Bangladesh, the desired target for products exported from Bangladesh has not yet been achieved.
• Some textile manufacturers in India are complaining about competition from the duty-free import of garments from Bangladesh.
• There is a need to limit China’s growing influence through investments in various projects in Bangladesh. Bangladesh is the second biggest arms market for China after Pakistan.
• Bangladesh is also opposing India’s proposed Tapaimukh Dam on the Barak River in Manipur and the Interlinking of the rivers project by India.

India needs to strengthen regional groups like SAARC, BIMSTEC etc. This will give full impetus to India’s Neighbourhood First policy and elevate India-Bangladesh relations to another level.