Bangladesh-India relations are perhaps the most complex bilateral relations in the subcontinent. India is often perceived as serving its own self-interests against the neighbouring Bangladesh. With the signing of Peace and Friendship Treaty in 1972, the two countries attempted to improve their relations to no avail.
As a result, decades-old issues concerning land, water, and border security still remain, as does Bangladesh’s seeking of favourable access to Indian markets, particularly for its widely exported garment products. According to a news report on Tuesday, full settlement of the Bangladesh-India border dispute has become uncertain with India seeking a major deviation from the principle of demarcation in violation of the Land Boundary Agreement (LBA) and the subsequent protocols signed by the two countries.
The report said India has come up with a new proposal to demarcate the boundary ‘alone the bank’ of the River Muhuri in violation of the principle of fixing the riverine borders ‘alone the mainstream’ of the common rivers mentioned in the LBA signed in 1974. Thus, the proposal for changing the principle of demarcation of the border has put the implementation of the LBA to uncertainty.
It is to be noted that the LBA 1974 was signed adopting the border lines demarcated in the Radcliffe Award 1947 declared for India and then undivided Pakistan. The Indian Parliament finally passed the LBA Bill on May 7, 2015 but the deal is yet to be signed and ratified.
There was also no mention of the River Muhuri border demarcation in the joint statement issued on the summit-level talks held virtually between Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Indian Premier Narendra Modi just six days ago on December 17. Even PM Hasina was also against the ‘reopening’ of the negotiations on River Muhuri in her talks with Indian counterpart Modi in New Delhi on October 5, 2019.
The argument for Bangladesh’s stance is that the River Muhuri after 1977-78 survey, changed its course inside Bangladesh, devouring a huge area in Feni due to the solid embankment and spurs built on the Indian side. However, the border guidelines worked out by the two countries prohibit the construction of embankment and spurs that could change the course of the bordering rivers.
If Bangladesh-India relations are to truly succeed, India must seek to win the hearts and minds of the Bangladeshi people and seek out ways to squash their perception of being an unfriendly neighbour.
The government of Bangladesh sees friendship everywhere.
