PM Modi: It’s the golden era of India-Bangladesh relations

 Bangladesh assumes a very important position in India's recent thrust on 'Neighbourhood First policy'".India played an important role in liberation of Bangladesh and was the first country to recognise it.

How Sheikh Hasina returning to power impacts the relationship?

India normally have good times when Awami League(Sheikh Hasina's party) is in power.But when Bangladesh Nationalist Party is in power our relations deteriorate because of its pro Pakistan and pro China leanings..

Hasina’s victory is a positive development for India, which has been a stable ally during her term. The return of a trustworthy ally in economic cooperation and in the fight against terrorism bodes well for New Delhi. Bangladesh is key to India’s plans to connect with South-East Asia, as well as developing the landlocked Northeast. India’s plans to forge a viable alternative to the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation rests on Bangladesh, given its location bridging South Asia and South-East Asia.

Hasina has assured that no anti-India activity would be allowed on Bangladeshi soil. Since being elected to office for the first time in 2008, she has been determined to fight terrorism. While the two countries share a 4,000km border, it has been peppered by ethnic conflicts, sporadic infiltration and smuggling of fake currency. Under her rule, insurgency dipped in the Northeast, with kingpins of militant groups such as the United Liberation Front of Assam general secretary Anup Chetia being handed over to India.

China's growing proximity with Bangladesh

1.Defence-Bilateral defense ties are robust. Chinese and Bangladeshi military personnel train in each other’s defense academies. Bangladeshi army officials are reportedly more at ease with Chinese defense equipment than with that of India. Not only is China the only country with whom Bangladesh has a defense cooperation agreement but it is also Bangladesh’s largest supplier of weapons.

2.Trade and Investment-

China is also Bangladesh’s largest trade partner and trade is growing rapidly. Two-way trade, which was worth $12 billion in 2014, is expected to exceed $30 billion by 2021. While trade is booming, there is a strong imbalance in favor of China.

Chinese investment in Bangladesh has been growing remarkably in recent years. Between 1977 and 2010, Beijing’s investment in Bangladesh totaled just $250 million. This rose to roughly $200 million in 2011 alone. In the wake of the BRI, China has emerged Bangladesh’s largest investor

3.Infrastructure-China is playing an important role in Bangladesh’s infrastructure development. It has upgraded Chittagong port and is building an industrial park there. It is also constructing road and railway lines linking this Bay of Bengal port to Kunming in China’s Yunnan province. China has also built eight friendship bridges in Bangladesh, including the $3.7 billion road and rail bridge across the Padma River. Additionally, China is investing in a $1 billion project to improve digital connectivity.

How the growing Chinese presence is a concern for India

1.Political-It threatens Indian hegemony in the region.For example,there have been growing demands for China's entry in SAARC.If that happens it would surely undermine the Indian leadership of the region.

2.Strategic-China is investing in port infrastructure in Bangladesh along with other South Asian neighbours like Myanmar,Srilanka.It is also building road and rail routes to Nepal.Many realist scholars feel this is part of China's 

'Encirclement strategy'of India.

3.Economic-Indian companies also lose out to the Chinese ones in the bidding process of infrastructure projects.This also poses a question mark to India's leadership role in SAARC.

Way  forward

1.Resolve the Teesta water dispute-This will ensure equitable sharing of Teesta waters and pacify the anti India voices in Bangladeshi politics.

2.Gujaral spirit-India needs to extend it supports like an elder brother and cooperate in poverty alleviation  and capacity building programs in Bangladesh.The Indian experience of some of its successful programs like MGNREGA,Kudumbashree etc can really help Bangladesh in reducing poverty and generating jobs.

                    PM Sheikh Hasina- Dhaka's ties with India and engaments with New Delhi are organic.They are beyond a few billions of dollars of trade.