The Begum's Next Door

The BNP banks upon a traditional conservative vote base, supported by Islamic organisations like the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami. The Jamaat has history of standing against the independence of Bangladesh, opposing the break-up of Pakistan and is vitriolic in its anti-India rhetoric. Begum Zia was Prime Minister (PM) of Bangladesh during the periods 1991-1996 and 2001-2006. During her tenure, Bangladesh hardened its stance towards India and gave support to north-eastern insurgent groups and terrorist organisations such as the Harakat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami Bangladesh (HUJI-B)In 2005, the Khaleda government called off talks on a pipeline planned to run from India’s Northeast to Mynamar’s gas fields through Bangladesh, leaving India struggling over energy security options to feed its fast-growing economy. On economic front, due to huge trade deficit, Indo-Bangladesh relations were uneasy.ttitude of Awami League government has positive towards India. Begum Sheikh Hasina was PM during 1996-2001 and from 2009 date. In December 1996, India signed Ganga water sharing agreement with Bangladesh for 30 years. Awami League government signed a peace treaty with the leaders of ethnic communities of Chittagong Hills Tract in December 1997. In bilateral border conference held in New Delhi in May 1998, the two states agreed to expedite the process of border demarcation. The Oil and Natural Gas Commission (ONGC) was awarded contracts in June 1998 for drilling gas wells and developing six other wells in three gas fields in Bangladesh. India and Bangladesh also tried to enhance people to people contact by sDhaka bus service.The Importance of Bangladesh

 (SAGQ) comprising India’s north east, Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan. In addition, improved relations between the two countries leads to better border management, reducing in turn concerns of illegal migration into India and also curbing border smuggling activities. A quiet and peaceful Bangladesh border is an imperative in the current context when both our borders with China and with Pakistan remain disturbed.

Ddeep-sea The China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) is about to complete the construction of the natural gas pipeline and oil pipeline from Myanmar's Rakhine coast to Kunming, the capital of Yunnan in south-western China. Beijing also has plans to build a deep-water commercial seaport at Kyaukpyu's (Myanmar) natural harbour. This increasing Chinese footprint in the region is a potential security concern for India. A vibrant India-Bangladesh relationship can do much to counter China’s growing influence in the region. It must be remembered that ports in Bangladesh developed by China have the potential to become important pearls in the so called strategy of ‘String of Pearls’.

* The author is a Research intern at CLAWS

Bibliography

Kirti Singh Chauhan, Foreign Policy of Bangladesh, Kaveri Books, New Delhi

http://www.mea.gov.in/Portal/ForeignRelation/Bangladesh_Brief.pdf 

http://www.telegraphIndia.com/1130626/jsp/nation/story_17049365.jsp#.UnyA3flmDBYKamal Dawar, Let’s not miss the big picture, The Hindu

Rajeev Sharma, Have India-Bangladesh relations hit the rocks?, Firstpost.world

Ananth Krishnan, China Offeres to develop Chittagong port, The Hindu

C Raja Mohan, Bengal’s Waters, The Indian Express

Dr. Saurabh, Indo-Bangladesh Relations: Opening New Vistas, Indian Council of World Affairs