Editorial of the Day (24th June): Cementing Ties-India-Bangladesh

Context

• Prime Ministers Sheikh Hasina and Narendra Modi have been advancing bilateral relations between Delhi and Dhaka over the last decade.
• Sheikh Hasina visited Delhi for the third time, having been there two weeks earlier for Modi’s swearing-in.
• The leaders described their relationship as a “golden chapter” and “vision for a shared future” in bilateral relations.

Focus Areas

• Connectivity Agenda:
  • Focus on unfinished agenda of connectivity including:
    • Easing of visa procedures
    • Freer movement of goods
    • Cross-border energy and electricity flows
    • Building of digital bridges
  • Bangladesh is emerging as one of India’s most important trade partners.
  • Negotiations on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) to commence.
• Regional Integration:
  • Economic integration of the Subcontinent is seen as an urgent regional imperative.
  • Bangladesh is a natural partner for India in rearranging the South Asian regional economic order.
  • The India-Bangladesh economic relationship is foundational for sub-regional integration and Bay of Bengal littoral and the eastern Indian Ocean.
• Defence Cooperation:
  • Ambition to modernise bilateral defence relationship.
  • Wide-ranging collaboration between armed forces, defence industrial partnership.
  • India’s support for modernization of Dhaka’s armed forces.
  • A substantive bilateral defence partnership aimed at maintaining stability in the wider Indo-Pacific region.
• Regional Collaboration:
  • Expanded regional and international collaboration between Delhi and Dhaka.
  • Promotion of Global South’s collective interests.
  • Last decade saw two strong leaders overcome the Partition’s bitter legacies in the eastern subcontinent.
  • Shared vision for the future, despite some issues like river water management remaining to be sorted out.

Future Outlook

• The relationship is described as an “extraordinary partnership”.
• Both leaders express hope for realising the full potential of bilateral ties.

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