Cementing Ties-India-Bangladesh

Table of Contents

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.