Security Challenges to India-Bangladesh Relations

A seminar on “Security Challenges to India-Bangladesh Relations” was organised at Centre for Land Warfare Studies on September 10, 2009. The seminar was chaired by Ambassador Veena Sikri. The main speaker was Dr. Mansi Mehrotra, Associate Fellow, Centre for Land Warfare Studies. The discussants on the paper included Dr. Sanjay Bharadwaj, Associate Professor, Jawaharlal Nehru University; Colonel Gopal Gurung, Senior Fellow, Centre for Land Warfare Studies; and RSN Singh, Associate Editor, Indian Defence Review.

Dr.Mansi Mehrotra: Security Challenges to India-Bangladesh Relations

India played a major role in the establishment of Bangladesh, however, relations between New Delhi and Dhaka has neither been close nor free of irritants. Some of the potential threats discussed by Dr. Mehrotra includes: trans-border terrorism; religious extremism; attacks on ethnic minorities; global crimes; drugs and arms trafficking; smuggling of contraband; human trafficking; illegal immigration; environmental degradation; and food security.

The paper discussed about India's security concerns arising from terrorism, illegal immigration and border security. She highlighted the causes for ascendance of terrorism in Bangladesh including: political radicalisation, politicisation of Islam, and rise of Islamic extremism in Bangladesh. She studied the main Islamist groups in Bangladesh and their international links, financial sources. It was pointed that madrassas are the breeding ground for the terrorist. However, Bangladesh government is making effort in eradicating terrorism.

The paper looked at the security threats due to illegal immigration and various legal initiatives taken by the British and then the Indian government to check illegal migration of Muslim Bengali population. Bangladesh claims that there is no Bangladeshi population in India. They believe in the policy of Lebensraum which is creating a psychological space of having a right or belonging to a region which lies beyond the boundary of their nation.

India shares the longest borders with Bangladesh and surrounds the latter on three sides. The security concerns on the land border arise due to: porous borders; disputed enclaves; adverse possession; and undemarcated borders. The issue remains unresolved as Bangladesh cites document of 1937 while India is relying on land records of 1914.  There are also concerns about unresolved maritime boundaries. India is yet to ratify its maritime boundary with Bangladesh.

Dr. Mehrotra made recommendations to overcome the security challenges emanating from Bangladesh. The major recommendations made were as under:

• Investigating and checking any links of the terrorist with the local administration, military and politicians
• Dismantling support infrastructure of terrorist organisations
• Improving law and order situation
• Identifying the sources of weapons of the militants
• Commitment to modern education
• Balanced social and economic development
• Regional Cooperation – Joint Task Force
• Bangladesh needs to rethink its relations with India
• India and Bangladesh should show zero tolerance towards any security threats
• Pro-active rather than a reactive policy towards the issue of illegal immigrants
• Develop legislative and administrative mechanisms that stem the flow of irregular migration
• Enforce Foreigners Act 1946
• Adherence to human rights
• Promote economic, educational and training programs
• Develop bilateral economic relations
• Cross border investment and transfer of technology
• Control mechanism should to implemented
• Regulation of work permits and identity cards
• Effective border management
• Demarcate the undemarcated border, both land and sea
• Temporary permits for migrants on humanitarian grounds
• Complete fencing of the border
• Construction of jeepable roads close to the fence
• Removal of settlements along the fencing and on the zero line
• Clear directions to be given to the BSF to stop further infiltration
• BSF and Bangladesh border security personnel to work out strategies to deal with organised criminal activities
• Create awareness among the local population about the security threat the illegal immigrants can cause
• A comprehensive and continuous process of the proper mapping and movement of populations
• Deny all benefits flowing from the government to illegal immigrants
• Process of gradually disenfranchising the illegal migrants
• Make legislative changes to deal with illegal immigrants
• Increase in pay and allowances benefits of the personals involved in border security
• Up-gradation of the number of personal in Coast Guard
• Establishment of specialised marine police
• Joint naval exercise
• Navy and Coast Guard to set up Joint Operations Rooms
• Tracking and monitoring the movements of all ocean-going ships
• Larger navies should train the smaller navies to do maritime counter-terrorism.
• Monitoring of the coast up to a distance of 200 nautical miles by the use of radars
• Enhancing port security
• Coordination and joint patrol
• Prevent unauthorised settlements along the borders
• Initiate special development programmes in the border region
• Promoting the concept of Village Voluntary Forces
• Information networking

She concluded that regional cooperation and friendly relations between the neighbouring countries will ensure a stable security situation.

Dr. Sanjay Bharadwaj:

Bangladeshi society is vertically divided both politically and socially. It is represented by Islamic forces of 1947 and the Bengali nationalist forces since 1971 that has given Bangladesh a secular image. Recently Islam has been used for political support and to gain financial leverage from Pakistan and other Islamic countries. Nevertheless, the ninth parliamentary elections have reflected peoples support for democracy and secular forces. However, it is important to note the US aid to Pakistan that is now being diverted to raise the extremist forces on India’s eastern border. It is also necessary to note the significant role of China in undertaking huge investments and providing Bangladesh with weapons. With regard to terrorism, there are no formal linkages between Pakistan extremists and security agencies with Bangladeshi security agencies. However, there is creditable proof that reflects the linkages between the two.

Col Gopal Gurung:

The security issues between India and Bangladesh arise due to geo-strategic importance of Bangladesh with respect to north-east. The relevance of Siliguri corridor needs to be noted as it is the only physical connecting point of north-east to the rest of India. It is important to note the effort of Gopinath Boroloi which withheld the north-east from becoming a part of Bangladesh. Nevertheless, Bangladesh continues to nurture the dream and hope to include India’s north-eastern states in their territory. The issue becomes more important due to the manner in which Bangladeshis have settled in the north-east. He concluded by saying that it is important to take diplomatic initiatives to draw attention to the backlash of Pakistani support to terrorism in Bangladesh.

R S N Singh:

RSN Singh spoke about his contacts with Bangladesh over the years. He mentioned that the awareness level of Indian Army on Bangladesh is negligible. Bangladesh is oscillating between Islam and Bengali nationalism that has caused identity crises within Bengalis. It is also important to note the role of women in Bangladeshi society. He firmly believes that the secular outlook of Bangladeshi women will prevent Bangladesh from becoming the next Afghanistan. Demographically Bangladesh has shifted at least two to three miles inside India and is expanding. He analysed the role of China and Pakistan with Bangladesh.

Ambassador Veena Sikri:

Religion was used as an instrument by the leaders to distinguish themselves from Awami League. The anti-India feeling is regime created. Many times the leaders promoted those people to be part of the Army who nurtured anti-Indian feeling. It is also important to note that in the Army there is a division between those who support Army’s role in the politics of Bangladesh and those who want to abstain from any political association. However, anti-Indian feeling is not pronounced at local level. The support to US and Pakistan is at regime level and not popular level. The feeling for China is non-existent. Thus it is important for India to ensure that no extra territorial powers interfere in Bangladesh

Discussion

• There is a need for India to increase economic support to Bangladesh.
• There is a lobby for using Bangladeshi immigrants as workers as they are available for half the wage
• Hostile intentions of Bangladesh Army cannot be changed
• Recognise the role of Bangladeshi media in identifying the voice of the people
• Dynastic politics is worse in Bangladesh than any other country in the South Asian sub-continent.

Concluding Remarks

Brigadier Gurmeet Kanwal, Director CLAWS thanked the audience for their active participation. He also mentioned that the security challenges from Bangladesh are here to stay. It is also important to study the security concerns of Bangladesh vis-a-vis India. The China factor may play an important role in creating security imbalance in the north-east if necessary steps are not taken to contain it.

(Report prepared by Dr. Mansi Mehrotra, Associate Fellow, CLAWS)