The Perception of India in Bangladesh�s Security Domain

Although India-Bangladesh security relations have witnessed significant improvement in recent times, the skepticism of each other’s intentions, which has engulfed the relationship for a long time, remains true till now. This feeling has mostly hampered the formulation of a transparent security relationship. The recent arrest of Arabinda Rajkhowa, Chairman of United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA), who had been residing in Bangladesh for quite some time, and the subsequent arguments by both sides regarding the circumstances of the arrest of the ULFA leader stand as evidence. Despite the authorities in Bangladesh having declined any hand behind the arrest of the ULFA leader there is strong belief in India that the arrest of Rajkhowa could not have been possible without the help of the Bangladesh authorities. The awkward stand of Bangladesh has evoked speculation behind their hesitation in outlining a clear policy for cooperation on the security front. To ascertain an answer it is important to understand the country’s perception of India more precisely in the context of security.

India and Bangladesh have a shared culture and the national language of Bangladesh, Bangla, is spoken widely in the Indian states of West Bengal, Tripura and southern Assam. The country also enjoys close geographical proximity with India as three sides of its land border are surrounded by India. Bangladesh is also dependent on India to a large extent for its food supplies. In 2008 India was the largest rice exporting country to Bangladesh. Rather than having encouraged a robust and friendly relationship with India, these commonalities and proximity has created fears in Bangladesh   the fear of being overshadowed by the mighty neighbour that would threaten its existence as an independent nation.

The transformation of its identity from Bengali to Bangladeshi is rooted in the expression of its separate identity which is different from the Indian state of West Bengal, as such India. This has greatly influenced the progress of bilateral relations, especially in cases such as the transit issue. India has been urging Bangladesh to provide transit facilities for transporting goods to its land-locked north-eastern states. However Bangladesh has been denying transit to India citing security threats. In fact, the country’s growing closeness with China has been developed as a strategic bulwark against India.

However, India-Bangladesh relations entered a new phase in 2008 when the transitional caretaker government was in place in Bangladesh. The momentum has been upheld by the present Awami League government, which perceived that developing a relationship with India as an opportunity. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina declared openly that her government would not allow any anti-India activities on Bangladeshi soil, having sanctioned stringent drives against terrorist groups including the Lashkar-e Taiba network in the country. Under her regime, prospects for cooperation have brightened in the security domain, such as exchange of information as well as the fight against counterfeit money and contraband drugs.

However, Bangladesh’s growing relationship with India is not free of opposition. Opposition leader Khaleda Zia has threatened to launch protest against the government if it takes any decision “against the interest of the country”. Zia considers ‘transit rights’ contrary to national interest. The Hasina government’s closeness with India may be utilised by the Opposition towards political ends. The India naysayers in Dhaka also cite the reliability of China when it comes to providing military aid as opposed to India’s denial of such support. Today the country’s military is dependent on Chinese arms and they fear that they will lose the Chinese supplies if they get closer to India strategically. 

New Delhi will have to find ways to change the public perception of India in Bangladesh. As the definition of security has been enlarged to areas of non-traditional security such as economic and environmental security, that includes natural disasters and climate change issues, there are plenty of opportunities to take the dialogue forward. A beginning could be made by devising a common technology for the prediction of cyclones in the Bay of Bengal region. India can also play a major role in the economic development of Bangladesh by investments in areas of infrastructure, health and education. Likewise on the trade and commerce front, some efforts need to be made to allow import of Bangladeshi products in India through the duty free route.

With a friendly government in Bangladesh, some extra efforts have to be made diplomatically and politically so that the damage over the years to the bilateral relations can be regained. There is tremendous benefit for an enhanced cooperation between the neighbours. Bangladesh has a lot to gain economically from its engagement with India and for India, its neighbour could prove to be an important gateway to the strategic South-east Asia.

(Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not represent the views either of the Editorial Committee or the Centre for Land Warfare Studies).