India-Bangladesh relations

Source- Indian Express

Syllabus- GS 2-  India and its neighbourhood- relations.

Synopsis – This article signifies the importance of the Indian Prime Minister’s recent visit to Bangladesh.

Introduction-

• The Indian Prime Minister visits Bangladesh to commemorate two significant events: the country’s 50th anniversary of independence and Mujibur Rehman’s 100th birthday.
• The other events are the celebration of 50 years of Bangladesh Liberation and the establishment of diplomatic ties between India and Bangladesh.
• Despite the remarkable progress, the water sharing issue looms large.

Issues not discussed-

• Water-related issue-
  • • Teesta water sharing issues remain unattended. India and Bangladesh have been engaged in a long-standing dispute over water-sharing in the Teesta.
    • Lack of movement with regard to Feni, Kushiyara.
    • In 2015, the Indian Prime Minister’s visit to Dhaka generated expectations to take forward the issue however, it still remains unresolved.
• Border Management and illegal migration-
• Furore over implementation of the National Register of Citizens.

Positive aspect of the meeting-

• Sub-regional connectivity-
  • Bangladesh requested India for additional road connectivity link to Nepal and rail links to Bhutan via Indian Territory.
  • Bangladesh also wants to join the India-Myanmar-Thailand (IMT) trilateral highway.
  • Bangladesh offered the use of Chattogram, Sylhet and Saidpur Airport, by the people of North East India, especially of Tripura.

• Strengthening sub-regional cooperation in power and energy connectivity.
  • India is focusing on enhancing investments and creating capacity as well as power infrastructure

Way forward-

• According to a World Bank report, if there is free trade and liberal connectivity, trade would expand exponentially, resulting in an increase in GDP for both India and Bangladesh.
  • • It’s promising to see that the two countries are working toward a CEP.
• There should be efforts to resolve pending issues concerning sharing of waters from both countries.