Bangladesh–India relations

Bangladesh-India relations

India

Bangladesh
Diplomatic mission
High Commission of India, DhakaHigh Commission of Bangladesh, New Delhi
Envoy
Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Kumar VermaBangladeshi High Commissioner to India M. Riaz Hamidullah

The bilateral relations between the neighboring People's Republic of Bangladesh and the Republic of India, formally began in 1971 with India's recognition of an independent Bangladesh (which was formerly known as East Pakistan) following India's military intervention helping Bangladesh secure independence following the Bangladesh Liberation War.

Although some disputes remain unresolved, the relations between the two countries have been characterised as cooperative. Bangladesh and India are common members of SAARC, BIMSTEC, IORA and the Commonwealth. The two countries share many cultural ties. In particular, Bangladesh and the east Indian states of West Bengal and Tripura are Bengali-speaking. A historic land boundary agreement was signed on 6 June 2015 which settled decades-old border disputes, while negotiations are still ongoing over the sharing of water of the transboundary rivers.

In recent decades, Bangladesh has seen rising anti-India sentiments among its citizens due to the Indian government's perceived anti-Muslim and anti-Bangladeshi activities including India's interference in internal politics of Bangladesh, killings of Bangladeshis by Indian BSF, Citizenship Amendment Act, rise of Hindutva in India, anti-Bangladeshi disinformation in Indian media as well as India's reluctance in solving the water disputes in common rivers with Bangladesh. In 2019, several Bangladeshi ministers cancelled their scheduled state visits to India as a response to India's Citizenship Amendment Bill. In 2021, massive protests in Bangladesh against the state visit by Indian PM Narendra Modi to the country led to the deaths of at least 14 people. Furthermore, India continued to support Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during her tenure, even as her administration has faced accusations of increasing authoritarianism and corruption. Furthermore, India provided shelter to Sheikh Hasina after her resignation in the Student–People's uprising in Bangladesh, which further boosted Bangladeshi people's anger towards India.

Since the visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Bangladesh in 2015 and round back visit of Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to India in 2017, the notable developments that have taken places include resolution of long-pending land and maritime boundaries asserting the issue of enclaves, conclusion of over ninety instruments comprising in the hi-tech areas, i.e., electronics, cyber-security, space, information technology, and civil nuclear energy and observed increase in bilateral trade from US$9 billion to US$10.46 billion in the fiscal year (FY) 2018–19, preceded by US$7 billion to US$9 billion in FY 2017–18, an increase of 28.5 percent. The Bangladeshi government is set to initiate three significant infrastructure projects with the backing of India's financial assistance. These projects encompass a power plant and railway links among other crucial developments.