News Highlight
Bangladesh’s Prime Minister said she hopes that the issue of sharing water of the Teesta river with India will be resolved soon.
Key Takeaway
- After bilateral talks with the Indian Prime Minister, the Bangladesh Prime Minister described India as the “most important and closest neighbour.”
- The two sides signed seven agreements covering railways, science and technology, space cooperation, media, and water sharing.
- The two sides, however, made a significant beginning in river water sharing by reaching an agreement — a first in 28 years — on drawing water from the common border river Kushiyara for supplying parts of lower Assam as well as Sylhet in Bangladesh.
India-Bangladesh relations
- Political relations:
- India was the first country to recognise Bangladesh as a separate and independent state and established diplomatic relations with the country immediately after its independence in December 1971.
- Bilateral trade:
- In 2020, India exported $7.91 billion to Bangladesh. The main products that India exports to Bangladesh are raw cotton, Non-Retail Pure Cotton Yarn, and electricity.
- In 2020, Bangladesh exported $1.01 billion to India. Bangladesh’s main products exported to India were other pure vegetable oils, Non-Knit Men’s suits, and textile scraps.
- Foreign Direct Investment (FDI):
- India invested over $570 million in Bangladesh.
- According to the Bangladesh Industries Minister, Bangladesh will likely see foreign direct investment (FDI) from India touch $9 billion in the near future.
- Connectivity projects:
- Currently, three express trains and international bus services operate between India and Bangladesh.
- The new passenger service, Mitali Express, was launched recently.
- Bangladesh has expressed its interest in joining the India-Myanmar Thailand highway project.
- Defence:
- The Defence Cooperation Framework (DCF) pact involves military equipment and technology transfer.
- SAMPRITI is a joint military exercise between India and Bangladesh.
- Multilateral organisations:
- Both are members of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), the Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, and Nepal (BBIN) Initiative, and the South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA).
- River water sharing:
- The Brahmaputra, Ganges, and Teesta are the significant rivers shared between India and Bangladesh.
- Educational relations:
- The Indian prime minister announced the “Swarna Jayanti Scholarship” for the youth of Bangladesh in 2021.
- India shares its National Knowledge Network with Bangladesh.
- Boundary agreement:
- In 2015, India and Bangladesh resolved the decadeslong border dispute through the Land Swap Agreement.
India-Bangladesh relations issues
- Chinese interest:
- China stepped in and offered $1 billion to Bangladesh for an irrigation project on the Teesta river.
- Rohingya issue:
- Due to the presence of Rohingya groups in Bangladesh, their illegal migration to India poses a threat.
- Smuggling:
- There are frequent incidents of cattle smuggling as well as human trafficking and drug networks along the border.
- Teesta River Issue:
- The water sharing issue has not been solved, hurting India and Bangladesh’s food security and farmer welfare.
Content Source: The Hindu