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INDIA & HASINA: A 50-YEAR-OLD BOND

Syllabus:

GS 2:

• India and its Neighborhood- Relations.

• Effect of Policies and Politics of Developed and Developing Countries on India’s interests, Indian Diaspora.

Why in the News?

Currently the political map of Bangladesh is rapidly changing due to the recent resignation of prime minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed and the subsequent military coup. This shift affects the India-Bangladesh relation, and doubts arises regarding the future Bi-lateralisation in trade, security and investments on infrastructure.

Source: HS

Overview and Context:

• Historical Background: Sheikh Hasina along with her sister Sheikh Rehana had to flee to India in 1975 after their father, the founding father of Bangladesh, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was killed.
• Political Interventions: The Bangladeshi military has occasionally actively participated in politics which began with the appointment of Chief Justice Abu Sadat Mohammad Sayem as the president in the year 1975.
• Military Rule: Gen Ziaur Rahman came to power in 1977 and was killed in 1981 then came H. M. Ershad up to the democratic uprising 1990.
• Civilian Governments: Civilian governments occupied by Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina in turns were attempted in 1996 and militarized until 2008.
• Legal Reforms: The decision that supported this weakened the military’s power holding it accountable in 2010 and clarified that Bangladesh’s constitution’s secularism was helpful in politically stabilizing the country.

Army in Bangladesh’s Politics

• Periodic Interventions: The military has been involved in the politics of Bangladesh since 1975 and has affected it profoundly due to the many coups that have affected governance.
• Presidential Changes: Military coups that occurred from time to time brought alterations in authorities, from M. Ershad reign from 1982 to 1990 which was most predominant.
• Civilian Turmoil: Civilian government proved rather fragile in terms of the army mutinies and an attempted coup in 1996 and again in a military endorsed caretaker government between 2007 and 2008.
• Hasina’s Measures: Since 2008, prime minister Sheik Hasina made the military stay in its barracks and also made the legal avert to foster political stability.
• Current Dynamics: In view of this, the army remains involved in the politics of Bangladesh to the present time, recent events elucidating its impact on the country’s destiny.

Hasina’s “Goodwill” and India support:

• Political Stability: The regime of Hasina was characterized by stability and economic development since India for her government provided humanitarian aid in 2009.
• Personal Ties: Hasina built very good relations with the Gandhi family and the former president of India Pranab Mukherjee.
• Bipartisan Support: Prime Minister Modi called Hasina in 2014 to maintain and expand the strategic relations and work for common problems such as terrorism.
• Maritime and Land Agreements: Thanks to India’s support Hasina agreed to solve the maritime boundary dispute, and signed the treaty on the land border demarcation.
• Economic Cooperation: India has provided several billion dollar lines of credit to Bangladesh to help it in infrastructure and humanitarian sectors, which also boosted bi-lateral trade, moreover.

India’s Attitude and Diplomatic Challenges:

• Election Support: Yet, the Indian government never had any qualms regarding Hasina’s legitimacy unlike some of the Western powers during the phases of the electoral period.
• Strategic Interests: India’s support is mainly owed to the previous experience of the BNP-Jamaat regime when terror outfits against India had a free run in the neighboring country Bangladesh.
• Crackdown on Opposition: Hasina’s government ruled with an eye on the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami, which meant India was, again, more interested in stability than democracy.
• Civil Society Impact: India’s strategic interests are the main drivers that caused it to turn a blind eye to Hasina’s crack down on civil society and media opposition.
• Ensuring Safety: Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval reportedly had a private meeting with Hasina upon her arrival in the country, where the Indian role in guaranteeing her safety during the political crises was stressed.

The Participation of Bangladesh Army from 1975 to 2024

• Historical Control: The military’s political involvement has been shown to have started with the assassination of the notable leader Mujibur Rahman in the year 1975 thus making it a very influential force.
• Liberation War: The Long awaited Liberation War for Bangladesh was fought by Bengali soldiers along with Indian help to liberate from the Pakistan
• Post-Independence Coups: Several coups took place after the Independence of Bangladesh, namely, the assassination of Mujib and consequent-regime shifts.
• Ershad’s Regime: During the period of Gen Ershad in 1982, the military had taken control of Bangladeshi politics till early 1990 and then due to pressure in the form of protest in the country, he resigned.
• Democratic Transition: Yet civil rule was restored only in 1991; however, military intervention was still common for a long time, up to the large-scale coup in 2007.

Impact on India-Bangladesh Trade and Connectivity

• Trade Relations: Being the largest neighbour country of India in the subcontinent, both nations have traded up to $13 billion in FY 2023-24.
• FTA Discussions: India and Bangladesh initiated FTA negotiations in 2023 for liberalization of tariff for improving an opportunity to increase export.
• Economic Hub: FTA and improved infrastructure could bring large figures of exports and additional trade benefits as Bangladesh sought for a hub status in textiles.
• Infrastructure Development: It provided $8 billion of lines of credit for infrastructure development which helped improve roads, railway, shipping and ports.
• Potential Disruptions: The loss of Hasina may hamper trade relations, limit mobility and encumber the FTA all of which are strategically detrimental to India.

Way forward/ India’s Action Plan:

• Engage Diplomatically: Being curial counterparts, engage in relevant top-tier diplomatic talks with the new leadership in Bangladesh in order to manage issues that may come up in continuity of bilateral relations.
• Maintain Security Ties: Sustain development of security cooperation to fight terrorism and extremism to attain security stability in the eastern states.
• Support Democratic Processes: Support the democratic actors and human rights causes in Bangladesh while preserving significant relations as well as stability in the country region.
• Economic Integration: To increase the bilateral trade to its optimal level, keep on the FTA process, that would provide the economical benefits for both countries.
• Infrastructure Projects: Continue and future infrastructural development projects are sustained to increase the communication and trading channels between India and Bangladesh.
• Public Diplomacy: Conduct publicity campaigns specially to promote a positive image of India among the Bangladeshi people, build up trust.
• Cultural Ties: Expand cultural and educational ties so as to enhance and expand the interpersonal relations which would act as a natural continuation of historical and cultural links.
• Monitor Developments: Hence, monitor the internal politics of Bangladesh effectively and adjust policies as and when necessary in order to protect India’s strategic imperatives.

Conclusion

Political situation in Bangladesh is changing and India should maintain the right kind of political equation to maintain and develop the existing healthy relations. A good relationship between two nations houses the political transition and security interaction while social integration fosters diplomatic and economic cooperation of great importance in confronting challenges.

Source:Indian Express

Mains Practice Question

Examine how the political change of events in recent past in Bangladesh have affected the relations with India. In this changing structure what should be India’s strategies to sustain and build closer relationships with Bangladesh?

Associated Article:

https://universalinstitutions.com/india-bangladesh-relation/