Bangladesh-India Relations: A Different Perspective
A cordial and friendly relationship exists between Bangladesh and India. This relationship is considered as a biblical example of neighborly relations. However, there have been claims of a recent warming of relations between the two countries. The basis of such an idea is a report published in a popular English daily in India. The report quoted an article published in a Bengali daily in Bangladesh as claiming that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had not given the Indian High Commissioner time to meet in the last four months. There has been some hesitation in India since the report was released, as Bangladeshi authorities have generally responded quickly to such requests from Indian envoys in the past. But before drawing any conclusions about the future of relations between the two countries, a thorough analysis of the recent developments in bilateral relations is needed to substantiate the claims made in the media.
It is noteworthy here that this demand of the media has been blown away by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh, there is no question of not responding to the request of the Indian High Commissioner. The ministry says Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is maintaining social distance due to the Kavid-19 epidemic. As a result, he is not meeting with foreigners. In the last few months, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has not met any foreigner. As a result, why so much fuss about meeting the Indian ambassador!
Moreover, the meeting of the Prime Minister depends on the request made by the foreign mission. But the Indian High Commission has not requested any such meeting in recent months. A letter was sent from the High Commission asking for a meeting on July 22.
This incident has created a kind of annoyance in Bangladesh. The purpose of the Indian media has also been questioned. The Indian media in Bangladesh is very well monitored. In particular, the news about the bilateral relations between Bangladesh and the two countries is kept under special scrutiny. The Indian media has some positive feelings about Bangladesh. However, some of the negatives became the cause of mass dissatisfaction. On the basis of this, some established groups got the opportunity to spread anti-India rhetoric. This incident seems to have shown that it is important for the Indian media to be aware of this complexity or to look at the subtleties before writing a report on bilateral relations.
One of the main reasons for assuming that bilateral relations have deteriorated is a phone conversation between Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan. Bangladesh’s relations with Pakistan have not been warm for a long time. Especially after the election victory in 2009, the Sheikh Hasina government started this war crimes trial in 1981. According to Pakistani media, the recent phone conversation between the two leaders is an attempt to re-establish relations between the two countries. The Indian media became wary of this incident. According to the media, Bangladesh is gradually moving away from India, this is a sign of it.
In 2016, India withdrew from the SAARC summit in Pakistan over allegations of border terrorism. Bangladesh also refused to attend the conference. According to Indian media, the National Citizenship and Citizenship Amendment Bill has created public discontent in Bangladesh. This uneasiness with India is reflected in that step of Bangladesh.
However, the Foreign Minister of Bangladesh recently said that India-Bangladesh relations are very strong. The last few years have been a golden age of bilateral relations. Explaining the context of Sheikh Hasina’s phone conversation with Imran Khan, he said that the main principle of Bangladesh’s foreign policy is friendship with all, not enmity with anyone. It is because of this policy that Prime Minister Hasina agreed to the phone call.
But did that one phone call change the nature of Bangladesh’s relationship with Pakistan? The answer lies in two separate press releases issued by the governments of the two countries. According to a press release issued by Pakistan, the two countries have discussed Kashmir and SAARC, in addition to the Kavid-19 epidemic situation. On the other hand, the issue of SAARC and Kashmir has been completely ignored in the press release issued by the Bangladesh government. It is said that the two leaders had a goodwill talk. Besides, the steps taken by the government to deal with the Kavid-19 epidemic and floods in Bangladesh were also discussed. Besides, Bangladesh claims that in order to establish a meaningful relationship with Pakistan, Pakistan must first apologize for the atrocities of 1971. But so far no comment has been received from Pakistan on the issue. The uneasiness in the relations between the two countries became apparent in these two incidents.
Besides, the people of Bangladesh are also upset over the way India-Bangladesh relations are being compared with the Sino-Bangladesh relations in the Indian media. There is a perception in Bangladesh that the relationship between Bangladesh and India is very unique, blood tied. This relationship is not comparable to any other country. Besides, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is very careful about maintaining the balance between Bangladesh and China and India. He himself has very skillfully explained the difference between the two relationships.
During her visit to China in July 2019, the Prime Minister said Bangladesh’s relationship with India is natural, which cannot be judged by billions of dollars. On the other hand, Bangladesh’s relationship with China is a partnership and economic involvement in mega projects. This statement defines Bangladesh’s relationship with the two powerful Asian states.
However, recent developments indicate that bilateral relations with China have grown significantly. So the predictions about the loss of relations with India have raised suspicions. On the contrary, Bangladesh-India relations have deepened in terms of coping and mutual communication in the face of the Kavid-19 epidemic. Bangladesh is a supporter of the regional emergency fund called by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to tackle Cavid-19. Bangladesh has announced to contribute 1.5 million dollars to this fund in March 2020. India has also provided medical assistance to Bangladesh to combat the epidemic. Rail communication between the two countries has increased. Rail service has increased in recent months. Another important development is the provision of 10 Indian locomotive engines as a grant to Bangladesh. Bangladesh needed these engines before the new ones came from the United States, as most of the existing engines are out of date.
Experimental shipping has begun in northeastern India. This test was completed in July. Although the Bangladesh government gave this facility to India, the political risk for the Sheikh Hasina government was huge. Inland naval communication has also been strengthened. In May, the two countries agreed to expand the scope of inland maritime trade and transit policies. Two new routes and 5 ports of call are added to this protocol. These events are a reflection of the continuous progress of the cordial relations between the two countries.
In addition, the statements of the leaders of the two countries also show the warmth of the relationship. In July, the foreign ministers of Bangladesh and India met in a video conference. Both ministers made optimistic remarks about the relationship at the meeting. The Indian High Commissioner has met Obaidul Quader, the number two member of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s party. The recent progress in relations between the two countries would not have been possible without a positive understanding between the two countries.
The support of all parties is needed to sustain this India-Bangladesh relationship. Keeping in mind the unique features of this relationship during the analysis will play an outstanding role in strengthening the bilateral bond.
[This article by Jayita Bhattacharya, a senior fellow at India’s influential think tank Observer Research Foundation, was first published on the organization’s website.]
