India-EU relation

India has been maintaining a cordial foreign policy that can be extended even to a non-friendly nation. As we have a sovereign power in making our own policy but drawing the policy in an inter-related way that depends upon the different nations of the world. It has been shifting a dramatic way in its policy from the Western centric to the East Policy in the name of ‘Look East Policy’. Out of the eastern countries which it tries to make friendly relations, Bangladesh is considered as one of the most important to it. Especially, India is focusing upon the South Asian countries over the few years. Inspite of many efforts and initiatives like South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation (SAARC), Gujral Doctrine, Look East Policy, the relations between India and its neighbours have been far from satisfactory.

In case of Indo-Bangladesh relations, it is not only sharing its socio-cultural affinity with India. Even the credit of formation of Bangladesh goes to India, when the history dated back to December 1971. Earlier to that Bangladesh was called as East Pakistan, a part of Pakistan nation. It became independent with the help of India, by making a long liberation war. After the formation of Bangladesh, it made its first treaty of friendship and peace with India, by its founder and father of Afghanistan Mr. Mujib-ur-Rehman.

Out of 38 years of its Independence, it has been ruled by military rulers for 15 years – from 1975 to 1990. Again the restoration of democracy in 1991 revived hopes for better relations between the two countries. But it appears that the domestic politics of Bangladesh has infiltrated into its foreign policy establishment. Whenever, the Awami League (one of the three national parties), led by Sheikh Hasina, the daughter of father of Bangladesh, Mujib-ur-Rehman, is in power in Bangladesh, the relations between the two countries are cordial and friendly. On the other hand, when the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, BNP, led by Khalida Zia is in power in Bangladesh, the relations between the two countries are acrimonious and conflictual.

However, Awami League has regained its power in 1996, it lost it to the BNP by the year 2001, which led a major problem between the Indo-Bangladesh relations. The BNP government has been instrumental in developing warm ties with China, particularly in the last decade. Between the years 2006-07, trade between China and Bangladesh rose by 28.5% and there have been agreements between the two countries to grant various Bangladesh commodities tariff free access to Chinese market. Cooperation between the military of Bangladesh and the Chinese Army is also increasing with joint military agreements signed between the two countries. China’s growing influence on Bangladesh is a cause of worry for India.

At present, the Awami League has regained its power in December 2008, as the ruler of Bangladesh by its party leader Shiekh Hasina Wajed, the daughter of Mujib-ur-Rehman, which is also supported by another national party Jatiya Party, led by H. M. Ersad. This time, the Awami League has come to power with a 2/3 majority in its parliament, which led it to take independent decisions upon the foreign policy, which is a major determinat of cordial relations between India and Bangladesh.

Recent Visit of Bangladesh Prime Minister and Agreements

Earlier, the problem of Ganga Water sharing arose in 1975 when India consturcted Farakka Dam on the Ganga River to increase the supply of water for maintaing the navigabilityof Hoogly River. With many ups and downs, the two countries signed Ganga Water sharing agreement in 1996, which would guide the water sharing between the two countries for next 30 years. However, the sharing of water of other tributaries of Ganga between the two countries still remains unclear.

The Teen Bigha corridor is a small piece of Indian Territory which joins Bangladeshi enclaves of Dahagram and Angorpota. Agreements for the use of this corridor by Bangladesh were signed in 1972 and 1982. Following the Indian Supreme Court judgement, the Teen Bigha corridor was given to Bangladesh on perpertual lease, without any rent in 1992. However, this perpetual lease provided for the retention of Indian sovereignty over Teen Bigha with free movement of Indian Citizens living on either side of the corridor.

Both countries signed Chakma Hill Tract Agreement in 1997 which paved way for the repatriation of more than 50000 Chakma refugees living in Tripura. The repatriation of these refugees is almost complete. To check the further infiltration of Bangladeshi refugees, the Government of India has decided to put barbed wire fencing along the 3300 km border between the two countries. Bangladesh resents the fencing of the border. As a goodwill gesture, Kolkata-Dhaka Bus service was also initiated in 1999. More recently, Bangladesh has handed over some Indian insurgent leaders, notably Arbind Rajkhova, the chief of ULFA to India in December 2009.

Recent Five Agreements

Recently in January 2010, Bangladesh Prime Minister made a first visit to India. This visit has proved instrumental in reviving the friendly relations between India and Bangladesh. Further improvement, India and Bangladesh signed five agreements to enhance mutual co-operation. These agreements are:

Agreement to provide mutual legal assistance in criminal matters.
Transfer of persons, who are sentenced by each other.
Agreement to fight against terrorist activities, organised crimes and illegal drug-trafficking.
Agreement in the form of memorandum of understanding to enhance cooperation in the field of power generation.
Agreement to enhance cultural exchange programme.
And there was a memorandum of understanding (mou) on co-operation in Power sector, signed between the two countries is very significant. India has also promised $ 1 Billion line of credit to Bangladesh for building railway tracks in Bangladesh.

Both India and Bangladesh share common history and culture and that should reflect in the common sharing of interests, which can pave way for further development and peace in both of the nations.