"India-Bangladesh Relations Under BNP Government: Prospects and Challenges"
Neighbourhood First Policy
India's foreign policy doctrine prioritising deep engagement with South Asian neighbours through connectivity, trade, and people-to-people ties.
Teesta River Agreement
A proposed water-sharing deal between India and Bangladesh, finalised at the central level but blocked by West Bengal's objection since 2011.
India and Bangladesh share one of South Asia's most consequential bilateral relationships. The two countries share a 4,096 km border, one of the longest land borders in the world, and are connected by deep civilisational, cultural, and economic ties. Bangladesh was born in 1971 with direct Indian military and diplomatic support, and the 1971 Treaty of Peace and Friendship with the Soviet Union was partly shaped by the need to counter the US-Pakistan-China axis that backed Pakistan during the Liberation War. This foundational history has given India a sense of special relationship with Bangladesh, though the relationship has oscillated between warmth and tension depending on which party governs Dhaka.
India's Neighbourhood First Policy places Bangladesh at the centre of its regional engagement strategy. Connectivity projects, energy supply, trade facilitation, and people-to-people ties have all expanded significantly over the past decade. India supplies electricity and fuel to Bangladesh and is one of its largest trading partners. The two countries share 54 rivers, making water-sharing a perennial and structurally complex dimension of the relationship. The Ganga Water Treaty, signed in 1996 for a 30-year term, is due for renewal and will require hard bargaining. The Teesta River agreement, which was finalised at the central level but blocked by West Bengal's objections, has remained unsigned since 2011, creating a persistent irritant. China has strategically inserted itself into this gap by offering to support the Teesta project, reflecting its broader water diplomacy in South Asia.
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), historically associated with a more diversified foreign policy, traces its roots to the era of Ziaur Rahman, who is credited with founding SAARC and establishing early Bangladesh-China ties. The BNP's political coalition includes business lobbies, pro-Pakistan elements, and Jamaat-e-Islami affiliates, a composition that shapes its foreign policy instincts differently from the Awami League's traditionally India-leaning orientation.
The political transition in Bangladesh following the exit of the previous government has created a period of strategic uncertainty for India. The new government, led by the BNP, faces severe economic pressures: shortages of electricity, cooking gas, and fuel, combined with a weakened macroeconomic position. These domestic vulnerabilities shape Dhaka's foreign policy choices, as it seeks external support from multiple partners simultaneously.
The question of the former prime minister's presence in India has become a complicating factor in bilateral ties. Dhaka has made requests for her return, but extradition is a judicial process governed by treaty obligations and due process. India and Bangladesh have a bilateral extradition treaty, but the Bangladesh government has not formally initiated extradition proceedings through the required legal channels. India's position is that it will not prevent her from returning voluntarily, but it will seek assurances about her safety, given threats from Islamist groups. …
Which of the following statements about 'Exercise Mitra Shakti-2023' are correct?
1.This was a joint military exercise between India and Bangladesh.
2.It commenced in Aundh (Pune).
3.Joint response during counter-terrorism operations was a goal of this operation.
4.Indian Air Force was a part of this exercise.
Select the answer using the code given below:
With reference to 'Exercise Mitra Shakti', consider the following statements:
1.It is a joint military exercise between India and Bangladesh.
2.It is conducted at Aundh, Pune.
3.Counter-terrorism operations form a key objective of this exercise.
4.The Indian Air Force participates in this exercise.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
Match the following bilateral military exercises of India with their respective partner countries:
List I (Exercise) — List II (Partner Country)
A.Mitra Shakti — 1. Bangladesh
B.Shakti — 2. Sri Lanka
C.Sampriti — 3. France
D.Garuda Shakti — 4. Indonesia
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Consider the following statements about India-Bangladesh water-sharing arrangements:
1.India and Bangladesh share 54 rivers in total.
2.The Ganga Water Treaty was signed in 1996 for a period of 30 years.
3.The Teesta River agreement has not been signed because the Government of India has refused to ratify it.
4.West Bengal's objection is the primary reason the Teesta agreement remains unsigned.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
With reference to India's Neighbourhood First Policy and its application to Bangladesh, which of the following best describes the structural constraint that has prevented the signing of the Teesta River water-sharing agreement?
Consider the following statements about India-Bangladesh relations:
1.India and Bangladesh share the longest land border India has with any single country.
2.The Ganga Water Treaty between India and Bangladesh is due for renewal.
3.China has offered to support the Teesta River project, which India and Bangladesh have been unable to finalise.
4.Bangladesh is a founding member of SAARC.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
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