India’s Bilateral Relations with Bangladesh

India was the first country to recognize Bangladesh as a separate and independent state and established diplomatic relations with the country immediately after its independence in December 1971. We have several commonality which is reflected in our multi-dimensional and expanding relations. In the last four decades, the two countries have continued towardsan institutional framework to promote bilateral cooperation in all areas.

Recent Developments

India-Bangladesh Inland and Coastal Waterways Connectivity

  • The two countries have signed an agreement to use Chattogram and Mongla Ports in Bangladesh for movement of goods to and from India.
  • A Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) has also been signed for movement of passenger and cruise services.
  • In addition to this, an addendum to ‘Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade’ (PIWTT) between India and Bangladesh has been signed for inclusion of Dhubri in India and Pangaon in Bangladesh as new Ports of Call.
  • The two sides agreed to consider inclusion of Rupnarayan River (National Waterway-86) from Geonkhali to Kolaghat in the protocol route and to declare Kolaghatin West Bengal as new Port of Call. Chilmari was agreed to as a port of call in Bangladesh.

India-Bangladesh Land Boundary Agreement (LBA)

  • India and Bangladesh share 4096.7 km. of border, which is the longest land boundary that India shares with any of its neighbours.
  • The India-Bangladesh Land Boundary Agreement (LBA) came into force following the exchange of instruments of ratification in June 2015.
  • On July 31, 2015 the enclaves of India and Bangladesh in each other’s countries were exchanged and strip maps were signed.
  • Residents of these erstwhile enclaves, who opted to retain their Indian citizenship made a final movement to India by November 30, 2015.

India’s Bilateral Relations with Bangladesh

India’s 4,096 Km long border with Bangladesh is the longest and accounts for nearly 27% of the total land border. As many as five Indian states share the border with Bangladesh: West Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram.

Sharing of River Waters

The Joint Rivers Commission (JRC)

  • The Joint Rivers Commission of Bangladesh and India was setup in 1972, which has identified ten rivers shared by the two countries that they wish to manage together.
  • These are the Moharoshi, Uddakhali, Sonkosh, Mohadeo, Harivanga, Chela, Luva, Loha, Kamjhora and Khasimara, located in northern Bangladesh, with the Indian states of Meghalaya and Assam across the border.
  • The formal identification of these ten more as trans-boundary rivers by the Joint Rivers Commission (JRC) will enable the two countries to work together to manage them.

History of JRC and Trans-boundary Rivers

  • In 1951, two rivers – the Teesta and Ganga – were discussed between India and East Pakistan (Bangladesh, 1971).
  • In 1952, the Brahmaputra was also brought into the discussion.
  • Until the 1980s only three rivers were recognized as “common” rivers. Slowly this number has been expanded to the current officially recognized 54 rivers.

Teesta River Water Dispute

  • Negotiations on how to share the water have been going on since 1983. A 2011 interim deal - that was supposed to last 15 years - gave India 42.5% of the Teesta’s waters and gave Bangladesh 37.5%.
  • The Teesta River originates in Sikkim and flows through West Bengal as well as Bangladesh. India claims a share of 55% of the river’s water.
  • Bangladesh wants 50% of the Teesta’s waters between December and May every year, because that’s when the water flow to the country drops drastically.

The Farakka Barrage Dispute

The origin of the dispute can be traced back to the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Peace signed by the then Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and Bangladesh’s founding leader and Prime Minister Sheik Mujibur Rahman on 19th March,1972.

This treaty essentially regarded the lean season flows related to actual flows at various levels not exceeding 75% dependable flows, as in past agreements.

India’s Maritime Dispute with Bangladesh

  • Bangladesh went in for arbitration over the delimitation of maritime boundary under the United Nations Convention on Law of Sea (UNCLOS) on October 8, 2009 where the verdict was delivered in July, 2014.
  • The argument focused on issues including the location of the land boundary terminus, delimitation of the territorial sea, exclusive economic zone, and the continental shelf within and beyond 200 nautical miles.
  • The verdict opened the way for Bangladesh to explore for oil and gas in the Bay of Bengal, and ends a dispute over a sea border with India that has ruffled ties between the neighbours.

Bilateral Trade and Investment

The first Trade Agreement between India and Bangladesh was signed in 1972 and this was last renewed during PM’s visit in June 2015 for a period of 5 years with a provision for auto renewal.

  • In the last five years, total trade between the two countries has grown by more than 17%. India’s exports to Bangladesh in the period July 2016 – March 2017 stood at US$ 4489.30 million and imports from Bangladesh during FY 2016-17 stood at US$ 672.40 million.
  • India has provided duty free quota free access to Bangladesh on all tariff lines except tobacco and alcohol under South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) since 2011.
  • Total Indian investment proposals in Bangladesh registered with the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) exceed US$ 3billion.

Border Haats

  • Currently, four border haats are operational, along the India-Bangladesh border. Two border haats are located in Meghalaya at Kalaichar and Balat and two are located in Tripura at Srinagar and Kamalasagar.
  • The trade at border haats is permitted to be carried out in Indian Rupees/Bangladesh Taka and on barter basis, and data of such trade is maintained by the Haat Management Committee of the respective border haat.
  • In addition to the four functional border haats, Government of India and Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh have approved six more border haats-two in Tripura at Palbasti and Kamalpur and four in Meghalaya at Bholaganj, Nalikata, Shibbari and Ryngku.

Power and Energy Sector Cooperation

  • In March 2016, the two Prime Ministers inaugurated the export of power from Tripura to Bangladesh as well as export of Internet bandwidth to Tripura from Bangladesh. Bangladesh is currently importing about 660 MW of power from India.
  • The 1320 MW coal-fired Maitree thermal power plant, a 50:50 JV between National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) of India and Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB), is being developed at Rampal.
  • During Bangladesh PM’s visit in April 2017, agreements for generation/supply/financing of more than 3600 MW electricity were signed between Indian public/private companies and Bangladesh side.
  • Many Indian public sector units such as Indian Oil Corporation, Numaligarh Refinery Limited, Petronet LNG Ltd are working with their Bangladeshi counterparts in the oil and gas sector of Bangladesh.
  • India has agreed to fund the construction of India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline from Siliguri to Parbatipur for supply of Diesel to Bangladesh from Numaligarh Refinery Limited.
  • ONGC Videsh Ltd. (OVL) has acquired two shallow water blocks in consortium with Oil India Limited and is currently exploring these blocks.
  • India is also collaborating with Russia to build Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (capacity of 2X1200 MWs) in Bangladesh.

Connectivity

Road Connectivity

  • The movement of goods by road is operationalized through 36 functional Land Customs Stations (LCSs) and 2 Integrated Check Posts (ICPs) along the border. This includes the Petrapole-Benapole ICP through which more than 50% of the bilateral trade takes place on account of which it has been decided to operate these land ports on 24x7 basis since 01 August, 2017.
  • There are regular bus services between Kolkata-Dhaka, Shillong-Dhaka and Agartala-Kolkata via Dhaka. A new bus service (Dhaka-Khulna-Kolkata) was launched during PM Sheikh Hasina’s visit in April 2017.
  • The Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal – Motor Vehicle Agreement (BBINMVA) is expected to significantly boost connectivity by road.

Rail Connectivity

  • Out of the erstwhile 6 rail links that existed, four Broad Gauge inter-country rail links between the two countries are operational now.
  • The Radhikapur-Birol rail link was the latest to be put back in operation during PM Sheikh Hasina’s visit in April 2017.
  • The 7th new rail-link between Agartala and Akhaura is being financed under grant assistance of India.
  • The ‘Maitree Express’ between Kolkata and Dhaka now operates 4 days a week and has been converted into a fully AC train service.
  • Bandhan Express, a new passenger train between Khulna and Kolkata has been started.

Port Connectivity

  • The Protocol on Inland Water Trade and Transit (PIWTT) has been operational since 1972 which permits movement of goods over barges/vessels from India through the river systems of Bangladesh on eight specific routes.
  • Trans-shipment of goods to North-eastern States of India through Ashuganj river port, and further through Akhaura-Agartala by road commenced in June 2016 under the PIWTT.
  • Coastal Shipping Agreement signed during the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Bangladesh in June 2015 has also enabled direct sea movement of containerized/bulk/dry cargo between the two countries.
  • In February 2017, container ship services have started between Kolkata and Pangaon (which is just around 20 km from Dhaka) under this framework.
  • In October, 2018 both countries signed several milestone agreements, for enhancing inland and coastal waterways connectivity between the two countries for trade and cruise movements (to use Chattogram and Mongla Ports in Bangladesh for movement of goods to and from India).

Air Connectivity

  • There are several operational flights weekly connecting various Indian cities like New Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai and Chennai to Dhaka and Chittagong.
  • From Bangladesh, US-Bangla Airlines, NOVOAIR, Regent Airways and Biman Bangladesh; and from India, Jet Airways, Spice Jet and Air India are operating flights between India and Bangladesh.

Cultural Relations

  • The Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre (IGCC), High Commission of India, is a Cultural Centre of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations of India in Bangladesh. Inaugurated in 2010, IGCC regularly organizes programmes covering a wide-gamut of cultural activities. The IGCC also holds regular training courses in Yoga, Hindi, Hindustani Classical Music, Manipuri Dance, Kathak and Painting. The courses are very popular with the Bangladeshi students. IGCC Hindi teacher also teaches Hindi at Institute of Modern Languages in University.
  • ICCR has initiated a Tagore Chair in University of Dhaka since 2011. A MoU was also signed in January 2017 for a ‘Hindi’ Chair in University of Dhaka. A 100-member Youth Delegation is visiting India annually since 2012.
  • High Commission of India has been publishing a print and electronic edition of Bengali literary monthly magazine ‘Bharat Bichitra’ for the last 43 years. The magazine has a wide readership in Bangladesh.

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