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Abstract
The Sheikh Hasina led Awami League government came to power in Bangladesh in January 2009. This paper attempts to capture two contrasting phases in the bilateral context in the last decade despite the issues remaining more or less the same. In view of the several outstanding issues that exist between India and Bangladesh the positions adopted by Bangladesh's two main political parties — Awami League and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) — have changed the contours of the bilateral relations between the two South Asian neighbours. Over the years, bilateral issues have remained unchanged although a new dimension was added in the last decade. Irrespective of the political party in power in Bangladesh, India's policies vis-à-vis its neighbouring country have not altered significantly. Bangladesh, however, has approached India rather differently wherein its two main political parties adopted significantly different policies. The differences these parties had in their domestic agenda also spilled over to the bilateral relations. However, it now appears that both India and Bangladesh have shown keenness to make optimum use of the opportunity to progress towards forging strong and friendly ties.
Notes
1. Taj Hashmi, “Islamic Resurgence in Bangladesh: Genesis Dynamics and Implications in Religious Resurgence and its Implications,” in Satu P. Limaye, Mohan Malik, Robert G. Wirsing (ed.), Religious Radicalism and Security in South Asia, (Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies, Honolulu, Hawaii 2004) pp. 35–72.
2. Emajuddin Ahamed, “The Military and Democracy in Bangladesh”, in RJ. May and Viberto Selochan (eds), The Military and Democracy in Asia and the Pacific, (ANU E-press, 2004), http:././epress.anu.edu.au./mdap./ch07.pdf, pp. 101–118 (accessed on April 4, 2009).
3. Mohammad Alauddin, “Trade Among South Asian Nations: Experiences and Prospects,” in Mohammad Alauddin and Samaul Hasan, Development, Governments and the Environment in South Asia (New York: St. Martin's, 1999), p. 127.
4. See also, Raja Mohan, Crossing the Rubicon: The Shaping of India's New Foreign Policy, (New Delhi: Viking, 2003), p. 244.
5. The Bangladeshi opposition stems from the fact that this would inadvertently give India transit rights through Bangladesh. This has been a long-running dispute between the two countries.
6. In 2003, India announced a US$ 2 billion plan to divert surplus water from rivers in its flood-prone Northeast to dry western and southern parts of the country.
7. The agreement signed by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and her Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on May 16, 1974, states: “The boundary in the area should be demarcated along the mid-stream of the course of the Muhuri River at the time of demarcation. This boundary will be a fixed one. The two governments should raise embankments on their respective sides with a view to stabilising the river in its present course.” However, the Bangladesh government has been insisting on following the Chakla Roshanabad map of 1893, which gives it 44 acres more land than its due. The Indian side maintains that this is against the letter and spirit of the agreement.
8. Sensing the failure of Bangladesh to extradite wanted militants within the framework of the SAARC Treaty on Terrorism, in 2003 India made the proposal for a bilateral extradition treaty. In September 2006, during the secretary level talks both sides agreed for a bilateral mechanism, but there was no movements in the extradition arrangement.
9. This revised understanding and India abandoning its erstwhile support for Prabatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samity (PCJSS) partly enabled the December 1997 Chittagong Hill Tract Accord, POT-Eangladesh, May 10, 2000, p. 553.
10. For more details read, Sultan Shahin, “India Frets Over Pakistan-Bangladesh Nexus,” Asia Times, March 6, 2004, www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/FC06Df02.html (accessed on April 10, 2004).
11. “Sinha Blames Pak Mission in Dhaka,” The Hindu, November 28, 2002, www.thehindu.com/2002/1 l/28/stories/2002112806780100.htm-l4k, (accessed on April 10, 2009).
12. “ISI, Al Qaida Present in Bangladesh, We have proof: Fernandes,” The Hindu, November 30, 2002, www.hindu.com/2002/ll/30/stories/2002113006050100.htm-l4k, (accessed on April 10, 2009)
13. “Sinha Blames Pak Mission in Dhaka,” The Hindu, November 28, 2002; See also, “New Twist to ISI Work; Bangladeshi Nabbed,” The Hindu, December 3, 2002, www.thehindu.com/2002/1 l/28/stories/2002112806780100.htm-l4k, (accessed on April 10, 2009).
14. Since assuming office in October 2001, she had travelled to a number of countries including China, Japan, the US and Europe, but avoided India. This according to Bangladesh was due to India's refusal to adhere to ‘reciprocity’ and arrange ‘return’ the visit of the Indian Prime Minister to Bangladesh. The last state visit from Bangladesh took place in June 1998 when Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina came to India. Bangladesh, therefore, insisted that the visit of Prime Minister Khaleda Zia to India should be preceded by a state visit by her Indian counterpart.
15. “India May Relax FDI Norms for Bangladesh,” Indian Express, July 23, 2007, available at www.indianexpress.com/news/india-may-relax-fdi-norms-for-bangladesh/206327/ (accessed on February 18, 2009).
16. The area where the new bridge is being planned falls along the 163 km road from Jorabat near Assam-Meghalaya border to Tamabil in Bangladesh via Shillong on NH 40, connecting the two north-eastern states to the international border. The upgradation of the Jamuna bridge across the border will need to be done by Bangladesh.
17. “India May Relax FDI Norms for Bangladesh,” Indian Express, July 23, 2007, available at www.indianexpress.com/news/india-may-relax-fdi-norms-for-bangladesh/206327/ (accessed on February 18, 2009).
18. “India-Bangladesh Political and Economic Relations,” Ministry of External affairs, available at www.hcidhaka.org/pdf/Political%20and%20Economic%20relations.pdf (accessed on February 18, 2009).
19. Fact Sheet on Bangladesh Bilateral Trade, Ministry of External Affairs, India available at www.hcidhaka.org/pdf/Political%20and%20Economic%20relations.pdf (accessed on February 18, 2009).
20. “Donors Pledge US$ 550 Million,” The Daily Star, November 23, 2007, available at www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=12678–13k (accessed on February 18, 2009).
21. “Indo-Bangla Land Survey Ends in Satkhira,” The Daily Star, August 19, 2007, available at www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=634 (accessed on February 18, 2009).
22. “Indo-Bangla Teams Complete Survey on Indian Side,” The Daily Star, April 29, 2008, available at www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=33804 (accessed on February 18, 2009); The Bangladesh team entered the Khowai sub-divisional town of Tripura through Ballah borders in Chunarughat Upazilla in Habibganj and conducted a joint survey along the Habibganj-Khowai borders.
23. Haroon Habib, “India-Bangladesh Maritime Boundary Talks Inconclusive,” The Hindu, September 19, 2008, available at www.thehindu.com/2008/09/19/stories/200809195648 I400.htm (accessed on February 18, 2009).
24. Ibid.
25. Ibid.
26. In July, 2007 Bangladesh was behind the surrender of Julius Dorphang, a wanted militant leader operating from Chittagong Hill Tract (CHT). On September 14, 2008, 18 militants who were suspected of involvement in terrorism were handed over to India.