Dalvoy Logo
Dalvoy
UPSC MainsGeneral Studies Paper IIInternational RelationsPractice question

Strategic Importance of Bangladesh in Neighbourhood Policy

Bangladesh is a key pillar of India's neighbourhood policy owing to its strategic location, economic potential, and security considerations. Explain.

Explain~250 words2 min readmedium
Attempt it first, timed · optional

Write the answer on paper, as in the exam. Start the timer, keep to the word target.

00:00/ 11 min · 250 words

Done writing? Photograph the sheet and see how it scores against this model answer, with feedback on what to fix.

Upload your answer sheet

How to approach

Introduce Bangladesh's central position in India's 'Neighbourhood First' and 'Act East' policies. Structure the body around the three explicit dimensions given in the question: strategic location and connectivity, economic potential, and security considerations. Conclude with a forward-looking perspective on sustaining bilateral stability amid domestic political shifts.

Model answer

300 words

Introduction

Central to India's 'Neighbourhood First' and 'Act East' policies, Bangladesh shares a 4,096 km border with India, making it the geopolitical linchpin for South Asian integration and regional connectivity.

1. Strategic Location and Connectivity

  • Northeast Access: Bangladesh bridges mainland India to the landlocked Northeast. Initiatives like the Agartala-Akhaura cross-border rail link slash the Kolkata-Agartala travel distance from 1,600 km to approximately 500 km.
  • Maritime Transit: Bilateral transit agreements grant India access to Chattogram and Mongla ports, unlocking critical logistics channels and reducing transit freight costs for northeastern states.
  • Bay of Bengal Geopolitics: Bangladesh is integral to sub-regional groupings like BIMSTEC, acting as a gateway between South Asia and Southeast Asia while anchoring India's broader Indo-Pacific vision.

2. Economic Potential

  • Trade Anchor: Bangladesh is India’s largest trading partner in South Asia, with bilateral trade reaching approximately $14 billion in FY24. Both nations have initiated discussions on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) to formalize deeper trade ties.
  • Energy Integration: Cross-border energy infrastructure, including cross-border power transmission and joint projects such as the 1320 MW Maitree Super Thermal Power Plant at Rampal, highlights expanding economic synergy.

3. Security Considerations

  • Countering China's Influence: China’s expanding footprint in the Bay of Bengal, including defence infrastructure investments such as the BNS Sheikh Hasina submarine base, necessitates close Indo-Bangla alignment to safeguard maritime security and protect the vulnerable Siliguri Corridor.
  • Border Management and Counter-Insurgency: Institutionalised coordination between the Border Security Force (BSF) and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) remains essential to curb illegal migration, cattle smuggling, radicalism, and transnational crime, while sustaining a zero-tolerance policy against northeastern insurgent groups operating across the border.

Conclusion

Navigating political shifts in Dhaka requires pragmatic and mature diplomacy. Institutionalising cross-border infrastructure, economic interdependence, and comprehensive security cooperation will ensure that bilateral ties transcend regime changes, securing mutual long-term stability and regional prosperity.

Key facts to remember

statistic

India-Bangladesh bilateral trade reached approximately $14 billion in FY2023-24, reinforcing Bangladesh's position as India's largest trading partner in South Asia.

— Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India
example
Agartala-Akhaura Cross-Border Rail Link

Inaugurated in November 2023, the rail link connects Tripura with Bangladesh, significantly slashing the travel distance between Kolkata and Agartala from 1,600 km to around 500 km.

scheme
Chattogram and Mongla Ports Transit Agreement

An operational agreement that grants regular transit access to India for cargo movement between mainland India and the Northeastern states via Bangladeshi ports.

Frequently asked questions

Why is Bangladesh crucial for India's northeastern states?

Bangladesh provides the shortest transit route between mainland India and the Northeast, bypassing the narrow Siliguri Corridor. Port access through Chattogram and Mongla dramatically reduces logistical costs and transit times for landlocked states.

← All questions on this topic (39)