India-Bangladesh Relations

22.12.2025

India-Bangladesh Relations

Context

In late 2024 and throughout 2025, India-Bangladesh relations entered a period of significant volatility following the ousting of the Sheikh Hasina government. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has issued multiple statements expressing grave concern over targeted violence against minorities and the resulting instability impacting regional security.

About the News

• Political Shift: Following a coup and the subsequent arrival of former PM Sheikh Hasina in India, Bangladesh saw widespread protests and a vacuum in traditional governance structures.
• Human Rights Concerns: Reports emerged of extreme violence against local leaders and minority communities. High-profile incidents, including the public hanging and burning of individuals (e.g., the "Das ji" incident), triggered diplomatic friction and public outrage in India.
• Security Threats:
  • Siliguri Corridor: Instability poses a direct threat to the "Chicken's Neck," the narrow strip of land connecting mainland India to the North East.
  • Insurgency & Separatism: Concerns have risen regarding potential demands for separate maps and the resurgence of anti-India insurgent groups operating near the borders of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.

Strategic and Constitutional Framework

• Neighborhood First Policy: Bangladesh is traditionally the cornerstone of India's policy to prioritize immediate neighbors for regional stability and economic integration.
• Act East Policy: Bangladesh serves as the essential gateway for India to connect with Southeast Asia and the wider Indo-Pacific.
• Security Cooperation: Historical cooperation in counter-terrorism and the handover of insurgents has been a pillar of the bilateral relationship which currently faces uncertainty.

Key Areas of Conflict

Regional Integration: BIMSTEC vs. SAARC

• BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation): Comprising 7 members, this has become the primary vehicle for cooperation as SAARC remains dormant due to Indo-Pak tensions.
• Connectivity: Projects like the Agartala-Akhaura rail link and the use of Chittagong/Mongla ports are vital for the economic development of India's Landlocked North East.

Challenges

• Historical Paradox: Despite India’s pivotal role in the 1971 Liberation War, anti-India sentiments often fluctuate in Bangladesh based on internal political leanings (pro-India AL vs. nationalist BNP/Jamaat).
• Internal Security: Porous borders facilitate the entry of illegal immigrants and extremist elements, complicating the NRC/CAA discourse within Indian domestic politics.
• Geopolitical Competition: Bangladesh's "Indo-Pacific Strategy" balances between Indian security needs and Chinese economic investments.

Way Forward

• Diplomatic Engagement: Maintain communication with the interim/new leadership in Dhaka to ensure that Bangladeshi soil is not used for anti-India activities.
• Border Infrastructure: Accelerate the completion of the "Smart Border" project using thermal imaging and high-tech surveillance to curb illegal crossings.
• Water Diplomacy: Move toward a basin-wide management approach for transboundary rivers to depoliticize water-sharing.
• Institutional Strengthening: Leverage BIMSTEC to foster regional value chains that make economic cooperation indispensable regardless of the regime in power.

Conclusion

The relationship between India and Bangladesh is currently at a crossroads. While historical and cultural ties are deep, the immediate focus must remain on safeguarding the "Chicken's Neck" corridor and ensuring the protection of minorities. A stable, secular, and friendly Bangladesh is not just a diplomatic preference but a necessity for India’s internal security and its "Act East" ambitions.