{"id":352333,"date":"2025-12-19T16:08:29","date_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:38:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/?p=352333"},"modified":"2025-12-19T16:09:34","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:39:34","slug":"352333","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/352333\/","title":{"rendered":"India-Bangladesh Relations &#8211; Explained Pointwise"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Bangladesh is on the edge once again after the &#8216;<strong>July Revolution<\/strong>&#8216; leader <strong>Sharif Osman Hadi<\/strong> dies due to gunshot injuries. It led to protests in Dhaka &amp; attacks on newspaper offices. The protests have also been witnessed near <strong>Indian High Commission<\/strong> in <strong>Dhaka<\/strong> &amp; <strong>Assistant High Commissions<\/strong> in <strong>Chittagong<\/strong>, <strong>Khulna<\/strong> &amp; <strong>Rajshahi<\/strong> over the last few days.<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-352335 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/India-and-Bangladesh-Relations-300x200-1.png?resize=300%2C200&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"India-Bangladesh Relations\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" \/><\/p>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 100%; text-align: center;\"><strong>Table of Content\u00a0<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 100%;\"><a href=\"#h1\">Historical and Geographical Foundations<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"#h2\">Political Evolution and Recent Developments (2024-25)<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"#h3\">What is the significance of Bangladesh for India?<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"#h4\">What are the areas of Cooperation between India and Bangladesh?<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"#h5\">What are the other Challenges in India-Bangladesh Relations?<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"#h6\">What Should be India\u2019s approach to deal with the Bangladesh Crisis?<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2><b><a id=\"h1\"><\/a><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Historical and Geographical Foundations<\/span>:<\/b><\/h2>\n<table style=\"width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e4f07f;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 14.9682%;\"><b>Shared History and Culture<\/b><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 85.0318%;\">\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bengal\u2019s cultural unity &#8211; seen through shared language, literature (Tagore, Nazrul), and festivals &#8211; binds the two nations. <\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The 1952 Language Movement and the <\/span><b>1971 Liberation War,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> supported by India, forged deep emotional and political ties.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 14.9682%;\"><b>Geography and Connectivity<\/b><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 85.0318%;\">\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bangladesh is surrounded by India on three sides, sharing a <b>4,096 km border<\/b> and 54 transboundary rivers. Its deltaic geography links ecological and economic destinies. <\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For India\u2019s Northeast, Bangladesh provides the shortest land and port access, making Dhaka a strategic partner in regional connectivity.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-352336 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/India-Bangladesh-border-map.jpg?resize=750%2C598&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"India-Bangladesh Border\" width=\"750\" height=\"598\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/India-Bangladesh-border-map.jpg?w=859&amp;ssl=1 859w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/India-Bangladesh-border-map.jpg?resize=300%2C239&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/India-Bangladesh-border-map.jpg?resize=768%2C612&amp;ssl=1 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><\/h2>\n<h2><b><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a id=\"h2\"><\/a>Political Evolution and Recent Developments (2024-25)<\/span>:<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Political Transition: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Student-led protests in 2024 led to Sheikh Hasina\u2019s exit and the establishment of an interim government led by Muhammad Yunus. While Yunus has underscored \u201cfair and balanced\u201d relations with India, some of his remarks &#8211; like describing Northeast India as \u201clandlocked\u201d &#8211; sparked sensitivities.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><strong>Attacks on minorities across both the borders:<\/strong>\u00a0The ethnic attacks on\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Bangla-speaking Hindus<\/span>\u00a0in Bangladesh\u00a0and the\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">attacks on Bangladeshi\u2019s in India<\/span> have strained the India-Bangladesh relations.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Resurfacing of security challenges:<\/strong> There are risks of emergence of security challenges by the anti-India groups as encountered during the earlier BNP-Jamaat years. With the continuing tensions on the border with Pakistan, Indian Army&#8217;s long standoff with the PLA in eastern Ladakh, has created a security-nightmare for India.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Threat to India&#8217;s connectivity with the North-east:<\/strong>\u00a0A further deterioration in Indo-Bangladesh has<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"> restricted India\u2019s access to the Northeast<\/span>. This region&#8217;s connection to mainland India will only remain through the narrow \u201c<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Chicken\u2019s Neck<\/span>\u201d. With the Myanmar border remaining extremely volatile, the source of unrest in India\u2019s Northeast will increase.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Jeopardized the Bilateral trade and FTA:<\/strong>\u00a0Sheikh Hasina&#8217;s exit has jeopardized the growing bilateral trade ties between India and Bangladesh. There has also been stagnation of talks in the <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">potential free trade agreement<\/span> (<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">FTA<\/span>) between the two countries.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Deterioration of people-people ties- <\/strong>There are real risk of blowback from the Bangladeshi people and the new power centres in Dhaka- some of whom will carry past grudges against India.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Geopolitical challenges:<\/strong>\u00a0Pakistan and China will see the political change in Bangladesh as an <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">opportunity to challenge India\u2019s presence in the country<\/span> and try to tar it with a pro-Hasina brush.<\/li>\n<li><b>Recent Policy Shifts and Frictions:<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Transshipment Facility Withdrawal:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> India revoked Bangladesh\u2019s right to ship exports through Indian ports citing congestion; Dhaka saw it as damaging to trade competitiveness.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Extradition Tension:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The interim government has sought Hasina\u2019s extradition from India \u2013 causing diplomatic discomfort.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Minority Concerns:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Reports of violence against Hindus post-regime change have worried New Delhi.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>China\u2019s Outreach:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Beijing has stepped up diplomatic and infrastructure engagement, raising strategic concerns in India.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><strong>Summoning of Bangladesh High Commissioner:\u00a0<\/strong>India recently summoned the Bangladesh High Commissioner in India over the deteriorating security environment in the country &amp; the threats posed by the extremists elements to the security of the Indian mission in Dhaka.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<table style=\"width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #f0e6ad;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 100%;\"><strong>Reasons Behind Sheikh Hasina&#8217;s Exit:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Peaceful Student demonstration evolving into a nationwide movement: <\/strong>The peaceful student protest against the <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">freedom fighter reservation of 30% in civil services<\/span>, galvanized into a nationwide movement due to Government&#8217;s heavy-handed approach. The attack on students by Awami League\u2019s student wing, <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Bangladesh Chhatra League<\/span>, imposition of a<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"> strict curfew with a<\/span> &#8216;<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">shoot-on-sight&#8217;<\/span>\u00a0order and labelling the demonstrators as &#8216;Razakars'(a term associated with collaborators during the 1971 war) further inflamed tensions.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Slowing down of economic Growth:<\/strong>\u00a0Bangladesh made rapid economic progress under Sheikh Hasina&#8217;s regime. The country\u2019s per capita income tripled in a decade, with the World Bank estimating that over 25 million people were lifted out of poverty in the last 20 years. However, the pandemic<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">\u00a0in 2020<\/span> and <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">a slowing global economy<\/span>, thereafter, hit the garment industry badly. This increased unemployment, inflation in the economy and discontent of Bangladeshi Population.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Eroding democratic values:<\/strong>\u00a0The Parliamentary elections in <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">2014<\/span>, <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">2018<\/span>, and<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"> 2024<\/span> were controversial and non-participative as they were marred by <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">low turnout<\/span>, <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">violence<\/span>, and <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">boycotts by opposition parties<\/span>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Reliance on Hard Power to maintain control:<\/strong>\u00a0Hasina\u2019s government increasingly relied on hard power to maintain control. This created a climate of fear and repression. <strong>For ex-<\/strong> <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">The Digital Security Act 2018<\/span>, became a potent weapon for the government and ruling party activists to silence critics and stifle freedom of online expression.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Increasing economic inequality:<\/strong> The proliferation of Bank scams and an expanding list of defaulters, coupled with rampant corruption, fueled public discontent despite the overall economic progress. <span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>For ex<\/strong><\/span>&#8211; Companies like <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">CLC Power<\/span>, <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Western Marine Shipyard<\/span>, and <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Remex Footwear<\/span> topped the list of defaulters, with bad loans ranging from 965 crore to 1,649 crore Bangladeshi Taka.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><b><a id=\"h3\"><\/a>What is the significance of Bangladesh for India?<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ol>\n<li><b>Geo-strategic:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Bangladesh holds significant geostrategic importance for India as its eastern neighbour. It provides India with access to the Bay of Bengal and serves as a vital route for trade and connectivity with Southeast Asia.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Geo-political:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> A stable and friendly Bangladesh is crucial for India\u2019s security. Geopolitical cooperation on issues such as counter-terrorism and border management is essential for maintaining peace in South Asia. Moreover, Bangladesh\u2019s support is important for India\u2019s bid for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council (UNSC).<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Economic:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Bangladesh is a key economy for India\u2019s exports and bilateral trade. Strengthening economic ties with Bangladesh is vital for India to achieve its goals under the new Foreign Trade Policy and its vision of becoming a $5 trillion economy.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Cultural and Civilisational:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Bangladesh shares deep cultural and civilisational ties with India, including a large Bengali Hindu population and several religious-cultural sites such as Ranir Bunglow Temple and Bhoj Vihara that reflect shared heritage.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>International Cooperation:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Strong India\u2013Bangladesh cooperation is essential for the success of regional and global platforms like BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation), SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation), and international climate forums such as the COPs under the UNFCCC.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><b><a id=\"h4\"><\/a>What are the areas of Cooperation between India and Bangladesh?<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ol>\n<li><b>Trade and Economic Cooperation: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bilateral trade crossed <\/span><b>USD 13 billion in 2023\u201324<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, making Bangladesh India\u2019s top trading partner in South Asia. India provides duty-free access on most goods under the <\/span><b>South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Both countries have also started <\/span><b>Free Trade Agreement (FTA)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> negotiations to further ease trade and investment.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Connectivity and Infrastructure: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cross-border links like the <\/span><b>Akhaura\u2013Agartala rail<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><b>Khulna\u2013Mongla Port rail line<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> improved regional connectivity. Bus routes connect major cities, and India provides <\/span><b>USD 8 billion in Lines of Credit (LOC)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for infrastructure development. Ports access facilitates trade with India\u2019s Northeast.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Water and River Cooperation: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b>1996 Ganga Water Treaty<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> guides water-sharing, while the <\/span><b>Joint Rivers Commission (JRC)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> manages floods, irrigation, and data sharing. Cooperation continues across 54 rivers, though the <\/span><b>Teesta River<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> dispute remains unresolved.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Security and Border Management: <\/b>\n<ol style=\"list-style-type: lower-alpha;\">\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Anti-India terror groups were dismantled under Sheikh Hasina. <\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Border Security Force (BSF)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2013<\/span><b>Bangladesh Border Guard (BGB)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> coordination reduced cross-border crimes, and joint exercises like <\/span><b>Exercise Sampriti (Army)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><b>Exercise Bongosagar (Navy)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> enhanced defence cooperation. <\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b>2015 Land Boundary Agreement (LBA)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> settled enclave disputes.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>Energy and Power Cooperation: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India supplies around <\/span><b>2,000 MW of electricity<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and diesel via the <\/span><b>India\u2013Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, strengthening Bangladesh\u2019s energy security. Both nations are exploring renewable energy collaboration under <\/span><b>One Sun One World One Grid (OSOWOG)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Multilateral and Regional Cooperation: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Both countries work closely in <\/span><b>Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><b>Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal Initiative (BBIN)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and <\/span><b>South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for trade, connectivity, and development. They also cooperate on climate change and disaster resilience through global forums like <\/span><b>United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><b>Conference of Parties (COP)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> summits.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Cultural and People-to-People Ties: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Shared language, literature, and religion create strong cultural bonds. Heritage sites like <\/span><b>Ranir Bunglow Temple<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><b>Bhoj Vihara<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> highlight common history, reinforced by cultural exchanges and celebrations like <\/span><b>Mujib Borsho<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (Birth Centenary of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman).<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Tourism and Education Cooperation: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bangladeshis form the largest group of tourists in India, with joint promotion of cultural and Buddhist tourism circuits. Student exchanges and scholarships have strengthened educational links.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Health and Medical Cooperation: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bangladesh accounts for over 35% of India\u2019s medical tourists, contributing more than 50% of medical tourism revenue. Partnerships include <\/span><b>medical visa facilitation<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, hospital collaboration, and <\/span><b>telemedicine services<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Counter-Terrorism and Intelligence Sharing: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bangladesh\u2019s crackdown on anti-India insurgents under Sheikh Hasina boosted security cooperation. Both nations coordinate on <\/span><b>intelligence sharing<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><b>counter-terrorism operations<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and <\/span><b>cybersecurity initiatives<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, ensuring regional stability.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><b><a id=\"h5\"><\/a>What are the other Challenges in India-Bangladesh Relations?<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ol>\n<li><b>Sharing of Transboundary River Waters:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0India and Bangladesh share 54 common rivers, but only two transboundary water-sharing treaties have been signed so far: the <\/span><b>Ganga Waters Treaty<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and the <\/span><b>Kushiyara River Treaty<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. A major point of contention remains the <\/span><b>Teesta River<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> dispute, with Bangladesh seeking equitable distribution of its waters, which has not been agreed upon by India and the state of West Bengal.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Deportation of Rohingyas:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0India and Bangladesh have mutual but sometimes conflicting interests regarding the deportation of Rohingyas to mainland Myanmar. India prioritizes deportation from its own territory first and then later facilitates deportation from Bangladesh to Myanmar.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Cross-Border Terrorism and Infiltration:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0Terrorism and infiltration across the Bangladesh border pose significant internal security threats to India. Activities like armed dacoity in border districts, fake currency transfer, cattle smuggling, and prostitution have also raised security concerns.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Drug Smuggling and Trafficking:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0According to the <\/span><b>2007 International Narcotics Control Board (INCB)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> report, India remains a prime transit route for heroin trafficking from South Asia to Europe through Bangladesh.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Growing Chinese Influence in Bangladesh:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0Bangladesh is an active partner in China\u2019s <\/span><b>Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. China has invested in 12 highways, 21 bridges, and 27 power and energy projects in Bangladesh. This growing involvement may undermine India\u2019s regional standing and impede its strategic aspirations.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Rising Radicalization and Minority Persecution:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The surge in religious extremism and mistreatment of minorities in Bangladesh poses threats to both internal stability and regional security, potentially destabilizing Bangladesh and affecting India\u2019s security environment.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><b><a id=\"h6\"><\/a>What Should be India\u2019s approach to deal with the Bangladesh Crisis?<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ol>\n<li><b>Diplomatic Engagement:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0Maintain open channels with the interim government through regular high-level visits and dialogue. Avoid provocative statements and carefully manage perceptions to sustain mutual trust.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Raising the Attacks on Minorities:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0India must raise concerns over attacks on Hindu minorities both bilaterally and multilaterally, including through the United Nations mechanisms.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Support to Popular Expression:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0As a vibrant multi-party democracy, India should support the expression of popular will in a sensitive neighboring country. For example, India supported the people\u2019s movement in Nepal in 2006 that ended dictatorial monarchical rule and restored multi-party democracy.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Expression of Readiness to Expand Bilateral Ties:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0India should signal its readiness to enhance economic engagement with a successor government while avoiding branding the ongoing political change as anti-India or anti-Hindu.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Cautiousness and Discreteness: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India should act cautiously and discreetly, keeping the door open for continued close and mutually beneficial ties, as seen in its engagement with the Maldives under Mohamed Muizzu.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Establishment of Joint Task Forces and Smart Border Management:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0Joint task forces comprising law enforcement agencies from both countries should be established to effectively combat cross-border drug smuggling, human trafficking, and illegal immigration.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Establishment of a Digital Connectivity Corridor:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0A digital connectivity corridor should be developed focusing on high-speed internet, digital services, and e-commerce to create new avenues for trade, collaboration, and technological exchange.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Early Conclusion of India-Bangladesh Free Trade Agreement (FTA):<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0Bangladesh is set to lose its Least Developed Country (LDC) status after 2026, which will end its duty-free and quota-free access to India. India should finalise the FTA at the earliest and ensure it is not misused by China to dump goods into India through the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), of which Bangladesh is also a member.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 100%;\"><strong>UPSC GS-2: <a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/world\/bangladesh-protests-live-updates-dhaka-sharif-osman-hadi-death-yunus-national-mourning-10428029\/?ref=breaking_hp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">International Relations<\/a><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>Read More: The Indian Express<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Bangladesh is on the edge once again after the &#8216;July Revolution&#8216; leader Sharif Osman Hadi dies due to gunshot injuries. It led to protests in Dhaka &amp; attacks on newspaper offices. The protests have also been witnessed near Indian High Commission in Dhaka &amp; Assistant High Commissions in Chittagong, Khulna &amp; Rajshahi over the last&hellip; <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/352333\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">India-Bangladesh Relations &#8211; Explained Pointwise<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10391,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[130],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-352333","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-7-pm","entry"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","views":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/352333","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10391"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=352333"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/352333\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=352333"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=352333"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=352333"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}