Bangladesh-India relations: Honeymoon period returned?

Abstract

This article aims to provide a better understanding how deeply Bangladesh and India are maintaining good relations between them in recent time. Furthermore, this study has investigated and identified the factors that motivated both India and Bangladesh to revive their sound relations. In the South Asian region, India is the dominant power in terms of population, economy, military strengths, geographical size, location, etc. Bangladesh shares 78.86% of its total border with India. Both countries’ history, languages, culture, and economic nature is a more or less similar manner. During the liberation war of Bangladesh in 1971, it got a lot of support from India. After getting independence, both countries experience a sound relationship until 1975, which we can call the ‘Honey-moon’ period. After that, Bangladesh faces some difficulties in maintaining its relationship with India due to border killings, a sense of distrust, security concern, trade defficits, transit issues, and water sharing issues, etc. Recently, through Modi and Hasina's government's diplomatic efforts, both countries' relations have reached a new height, which I label as ‘Honeymoon period’ has returned. This study is basically based on the review of the secondary data and content analysis in nature. This paper finds that strategic geographical location of Bangladesh and China’s strategic engagement with Dhaka motivates India to maintain more close relationship with Dhaka to get it into its grip. In addition, this study suggested that if India wants to be a regional power, and Bangladesh wants to maintain its development; to fulfill its ambitions, both countries need to maintain a good relationship.