As India prepares for Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina’s visit in less than a month’s time, political analyst and author PKD Nambiar takes stock of where Indo-Bangla ties currently stand, and what are the achievements and the irritants.
In an exclusive interview to Press Xpress’ Tulika Bhatnagar, Nambiar spoke about regional political stability, Bangladesh’ upcoming election, China-Bangladesh relations, and challenges in Indo-Bangla ties that must be resolved immediately.
Excerpts from the interview
On Bangladesh’ upcoming general election, India has recently officially expressed support and faith for the democratic process of the country, highlighting a “very close relationship” that India shares with Bangladesh. How do you analyse this in view of and contrary to the recent stand taken by the United States? Do India’s comments hold any significance?
Nambiar: Since the time Bangladesh was formed as a nation, Indo-Bangla ties have mostly remained intact and on “very special terms” contrary to the hostile relationship India has often shared with Pakistan, the very country from which Bangladesh declared independence and became the nation that it is today. From bilateral trade ties, to cultural exchange, scientific to infrastructure development, and least to mention, the Bangladesh Liberation War – India has played a crucial role in the history of a nation that was born from the sparks of the “Bhasha Andolan” or a movement keeping the Mother Tongue at the centre stage.So, it is not very surprising that when countries like the US recently made an observation seeking a free and fair election in Bangladesh that is slated to be held in December this year or January next year, and even issued a new visa policy saying it would be able to restrict the issuance of visas for any Bangladeshi individual, believed to be responsible for, or complicit in, undermining the democratic election process in Bangladesh, then “friendly nations” like India had to come up with a statement to make their position clear.
Meddling in internal affairs of another democratic nation has never been on India’s agenda, if we look up the political history of our great nation.
Hence, I find it quite natural that the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) came up with an official statement stating: “World may comment on Bangladesh election but India has very special relationship with Bangladesh.” India’s Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi also added that election and the democratic process in Bangladesh have to be determined as per how people of Bangladesh choose to do so.
I feel it is completely in line with the thoughts that India has always preserved, never indulging other countries to interfere in its own democratic process. India being a democracy, we know how to respect the democratic process of elections, in fact we too are going for general election in 2024.
Countries including the US have been commenting on elections in Bangladesh and expressed their desire for a free, fair and peaceful election since the time Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina and her party Awami League declared elections and opposition party BNP tried to steal the limelight by asking PM Hasina to resign first and form a caretaker government.
New Delhi’s comments came against the backdrop of this ongoing political impasse.
India’s comments at this juncture are thus very important for both Bangladesh and the world to observe as we too wish for peace and no violence, and a democratic process.
No wonder even MEA observed: “The whole world may comment on it, but India is India, and we have a very special relationship with Bangladesh. What happens in Bangladesh… we are involved in it since it impacts us.”
What is even noteworthy in this context and I would like to add a note to it is how China and Russia reacted by directly accusing the United States of meddling in Bangladesh’s internal affairs. I feel India’s position is very balanced and apt.
Are there any concerns within India regarding Bangladesh’ closely developing ties with China?
Nambiar: The Sino-Bangladesh ties in recent years have raised eyebrows.
In 2021, China’s President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory message to Bangladesh on the 50th anniversary of its independence that encapsulates mutual aspirations for stronger ties in an age of great power competition. It mentioned: “Both countries were at a crucial stage of revitalization and development when China’s dream of great national rejuvenation can well connect with the Sonar Bangla dream.”
In 2016, President Xi became the first Chinese president to visit Bangladesh in 30 years. Bilateral relations were not always smooth and warm between the two nations, yet China started leaning towards Bangladesh primarily to grab the trade corridor that was so long supported by India primarily because of its close geographical proximity to Bangladesh, unlike China.
In Bangladeshi geopolitics, India has long been at the centre, in cultural links and above all its intervention as an ally against Pakistan during Bangladesh Liberation War.
Meanwhile, as a global power, the United States has exercised the greatest economic and political leverage over Bangladesh. Other regional powers, such as China and Japan, had a more peripheral role until China’s rise as an economic and military power cemented its ability and confirmed its willingness to exert influence.
No wonder Bangladesh recognized the new opportunity and China’s appeal with massive investments that they were ready to make, to develop Bangladesh’ infrastructure.
However, in 2018, PM Sheikh Hasina had made it clear publicly that India need not worry about this newfound Sino-Bangladesh bilateral relationship, because Bangladesh was only seeking economic help to develop the nation and any country, from China to Middle East, was welcome to contribute to making Bangladesh a prosperous modern nation.
In fact, Bangladesh for long had been under the LDC (Least Developed Country) list and was thus keen to do whatever it could to get out of the list.
PM Hasina had repeatedly asserted on the “excellent” ties between India and Bangladesh and how they have solved maritime and border issues peacefully and with patience. So, I believe there is nothing to be jittery about Bangladesh tilting towards China as they will never be in a position to ignore India, a nation which has stood by it for decades.
What is even noteworthy in this context and I would like to add a note to it is how China and Russia reacted by directly accusing the United States of meddling in Bangladesh’s internal affairs. I feel India’s position is very balanced and apt.
The delegation visit that concluded on 9 Aug is a month ahead of Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina’s visit to India. As a political analyst observing the Indian sub-continent for so many years, what in your view are the main challenges that India and Bangladesh should immediately work to resolve?
Nambiar: The five-member delegation, led by Awami League presidium member and agriculture minister Abdur Razzaque, party joint secretary general and information and broadcasting minister Hasan Mahmud, party organising secretary Sujit Roy Nandi and two women MPs have met Indian ruling party BJP’s leaders and Union ministers this week, while on a three-day visit.
The Awami League leaders were given an overview of how the BJP functions. But more than “Know the BJP” initiative and an external outreach and enhancing a party-to-party interaction, I believe before PM Hasina’s planned trip to New Delhi to attend the G20 Summit in September, the two countries need to resolve certain long-standing issues.
One being the Teesta water-sharing treaty and implementation. Take for example, how smoothly the sharing treaty of waters of Kushiyara River was resolved, which is expected to benefit the regions of southern Assam and Bangladesh’s Sylhet region.
Other than that, the most important resolution would be how to jointly face militancy and fundamentalist forces that in recent years are out to threaten the mutual trust between the two countries.
We all know how such forces wreaked havoc during Durga Puja last year, trying to tear down the “tolerant and democratic” fabric of Bangladesh towards the Hindus unlike the atrocities in Pakistan. But fundamentalism and that too religion-based is again raising its ugly head in Bangladesh and both India and Bangladesh need to understand that such issues need to be resolved and nipped in the bud. Else, it would lead to catastrophic outcome.
