Issues in the Bilateral Relations

ISSUES IN THE BILATERAL RELATIONS

1. Insurgency

• Insurgency is one of the bones of contention between two countries. The question of ISI operating from Bangladesh and supporting the insurgents in the North-East is one of the major issues.

• In 1999, it was reported that the porous border between India and Bangladesh has been used by the insurgent groups for movement to and from their camps.

• In 2001, media reports highlighted the presence of a number of camps in Bangladesh operated by National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT), United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) and National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFM).

• There are also reports that ULFA has several lucrative income generating projects in Bangladesh to sustain its insurgency activities in India.

2. Illegal Migration

• Large influx of such migrants across the boundary has posed serious socio-economic-political problems for the people of Indian states bordering Bangladesh viz, Tripura, Mizoram, Assam, Meghalaya and West Bengal.

• India sought to check problem of refugees by erecting barbed wire fence along the border which was greatly resented by Bangladesh.

• India facilitated the repatriation of Bangladeshi Chakma refugees from camps in Tripura.

3. Terrorist Infiltration

• Terrorist infiltration has been a matter of concern since the creation of Bangladesh.

• Recently a report sent by the Bangladesh Government to India’s Ministry of Home Affairs noted that approximately 2,000 operatives of the Harkat ul Jihad al

Islami – Bangladesh (HUJI-B) and Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) had entered India through the porous India-Bangladesh border.

4. Production and supply of fake Indian Currency Notes

• Recently several duplicate notes have been found along the border, which cripple the Indian Economy severely.

• Bangladesh is considered as important source of fake Indian Currency Notes.

5. Border Disputes

• India and Bangladesh share a land border of almost 4,096 km and a maritime border of 180 km.

• The non-demarcation of a 6.5 km land border along the Comilla—Tripura makes the border question unresolved.

• India’s reluctance to resolve this issue is attributed to the concerns of the Hindus living in the lands likely to go to Bangladesh after demarcation.

• Long-standing disputes over the demarcation of the shared border, particularly in the areas of Assam and Tripura.

6. Transit Rights

• While India wants transit rights through Bangladesh to develop its North Eastern region, Bangladesh is wary of any such request as infringement of its sovereignty.

7. Water Dispute

• There are various ongoing river water disputes like Ganga River dispute, Teesta River dispute etc...

8. Economic disputes

• Both countries face non-tariff barriers at the border, such as lengthy customs procedures and bureaucratic red tape, which have hindered trade.

9. Sharing of Transboundary River Waters

• India and Bangladesh share 54 common rivers, but only two treaties have been signed so far of Ganga Waters Treaty and the Kushiyara River Treaty.

• The other major river treaties, such as the Teesta and Feni are still under negotiation.

• Teesta river dispute: In order to keep the river’s water flow to a minimum, an agreement was concluded in 2011 that gave India 42.5% of the water, Bangladesh 37.5%, and the remaining 20% of the river’s water flow-free rein. Due to some disagreement, this agreement has not been put into effect to this point.

• Farakka barrage dispute: Diversion of water from the Ganges to the Hooghly River is a major source of concern raised by Bangladesh many times in the past.

10. Drug Smuggling & Cattle Trafficking

• There have been many incidences of cross border drug smuggling & trafficking.

• Humans (especially children & women) are trafficked & various animal & bird species are poached through these borders.

• Cattle smuggling is considered to be one of the losses for India as it’s losing its indigenous variety of cattle and trade.

• Cattle haats along the India-Bangladesh border are becoming a source of cattle for smuggling.

11. Lack of infrastructure

• Insufficient infrastructure and connectivity, hindering the development of economic ties between the two countries.

12. Growing Chinese Influence in Bangladesh

• China’s increasing involvement with Bangladesh could potentially undermine India’s regional standing and impede its strategic aspirations.

• China has     been     increasing     its     investments     in     

Bangladesh, particularly in the areas of infrastructure development, energy, and telecommunications. For example, BRI and investment in Chittagong port.

13. The 2024 Sheikh Hasina Crisis

• Exile in India: On August 5, 2024, Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled to India amidst widespread student-led protests.

• Extradition Demands of Hasina from Bangladesh: Since she was given a death sentence in absentia for charges connected to the 2024 rebellion, Bangladesh's interim and successive administrations have asked for her return.

• India’s position and the Diplomatic Crisis: New Delhi is in a difficult situation as a result of sheltering Hasina. Refusing to extradite her harms ties with Bangladesh's new administration, while extraditing her could harm India's standing as a reliable friend.

14. St Martin's Island controversy:

Sheikh Hasina, the former prime minister of Bangladesh, asserted that the US overthrew her administration because she refused to give over or lease St. Martin's Island to the US for a naval base.

St. Martin's Island is well situated close to Myanmar in the northeastern Bay of Bengal. Due to its position, it is a hotly contested region for regional influence between the US, China, and India.

The influence of America or China on this island will be direct threat to India’s security. The northeastern border regions of India can also be influenced by this island. India's hegemony in the Bay of Bengal may be diminished by the entry of other nations