[🇧🇩] Indo-Bangla Relation: India's Regional Ambition, Geopolitical Reality, and Strategic Options For Bangladesh

[Bilal9]

They have history of Killing even their brother and presenting their Brother's cut head to imprisoned father and you call them liberal.
If they had been liberal, you would be Babulal today instead of Bilal.

This is what happens when stakes are large (such as being emperor of Mughal India). No different in contemporary European countries or Middle East. Study some history.

Babulal or Bilal, either is fine with me. I am who I am.

 

[Bilal9]

BD's policy anyway going to toe to official line of any big player. If you do not go with India, you will obey to either China or US. Maintaining good relationship with India is far better than being salve of China. You will not gain anything, but you are sure to fall in Debt trap. SL tried same and failed badly. Ultimately, India rescued it with 4 BN USD line of credit. Pakistan Experimented with China and ruined its economy.

Bangladesh is not Sri Lanka.

Indians keep forgetting.

Economically in collective sense - it is a close equivalent of Pakistan now, maybe not militarily.

 

[Dogun18]

Bangladesh is not Sri Lanka.

Indians keep forgetting.

Economically in collective sense - it is a close equivalent of Pakistan now, maybe not militarily.

“‘Maybe not militarily”, definetly not militarily.

 

[Bilal9]

“‘Maybe not militarily”, definetly not militarily.

Yes - by a factor of five likely. And Pakistan is a military power, Bangladesh is not.

No comparison needed though, Pakistan is an ally and brotherly country.

 

[Dogun18]

Yes - by a factor of five likely. No comparison needed though, Pakistan is an ally and brotherly country.

factor of five? Pakistan is far far stronger than Bangladesh. Bangladesh is our brother state and hopefully once our generals are outsted we can bring true unity.

 

[Dogun18]

But the Benagli people are strong willed.

 

[Bilal9]

factor of five? Pakistan is far far stronger than Bangladesh. Bangladesh is our brother state and hopefully once our generals are outsted we can bring true unity.

Correct. Bangladesh Armed forces was intentionally kept weak by Hasina by advisement of her Indian advisers.

Now that she is out, Bangladesh Army will grow further and be commensurate with its regional defence role in the Eastern front of India. I think there will be at least two more infantry divisions raised in Bangladesh Army while number of divisions is currently ten. Ideally - Bangladesh should have at least fifteen divisions with number of tanks and APCs (currently 350 or so) needed to be tripled. Indian intelligence has made inroads into Bangladesh Army which is a major area of concern, traitors and RAW agents are being weeded out as we speak.

Bangladesh armed forces spending is of course far less than Pakistan as percentage of GDP and there is scope to grow much, much more - since total GDP is not too much less than Pakistan.

Pakistan has 25 Army divisions plus far more specialized indigenous equipment such as self sufficient aircraft platforms across many functions, tactical and ballistic missiles etc. Pakistan's strategic order of battle is sufficient to counter India, but the additional fronts of China and Bangladesh combined would not hurt if sought. The prospect of India countering three fronts (or even two) will be daunting by anyone's calculus. Indian Army divisions are currently around 40.

@Saif bhai can kindly elaborate on Bangladesh Army plans since his information would be more correct than mine.

 

[Bilal9]

Dhaka (Bangladesh), Dec 09 (ANI): India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on December 09 said, “We also discussed recent developments and I conveyed our concerns including those related to the safety and welfare of minorities.

MSN

MSN

MSN

 

[Saif]

Dhaka asks New Delhi not to interfere in Bangladesh's internal affairs

Foreign Secretary Jashim Uddin briefed journalists following the Foreign Office Consultation between Bangladesh and India

www.thedailystar.net

Dhaka asks New Delhi not to interfere in Bangladesh's internal affairs
Bangladesh asks India not to interfere in internal affairs

Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Foreign Secretary Jashim Uddin told journalists after the Foreign Office Consultation with his Indian counterpart today that Dhaka has asked New Delhi not to interfere in Bangladesh's internal affairs.

"We said people of all religions in Bangladesh freely practice their faiths. This is our internal affair. It is not expected [of other countries] to make comments on our internal affairs. We don't do it for other countries," he said.

India recently issued statements after the arrest and denial of bail of Hindu priest Chinmoy Krishna Das. There have been demonstrations in various parts of India and an attack on the Bangladesh mission in Agartala as well.​

 

[Saif]

Want to work closely with interim govt of Bangladesh: Indian foreign secretary

Earlier, he led the Foreign Office Consultation with Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin

www.thedailystar.net

Want to work closely with interim govt of Bangladesh: Indian foreign secretary
Vikram Misri and Md Jashim Uddin discussions

Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri with Bangladeshi Foreign Affairs Adviser Touhid Hossain. Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs

India has underlined it's desire to work closely with the interim government of Bangladesh.

Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said this to reporters after a courtesy call on Foreign Adviser Touhid Hossain.

Earlier, he led the Foreign Office Consultation with Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin at the state guest house Padma.

He is scheduled to call on Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus at the state guest house Jamuna later.

"Today's discussions have given both of us the opportunity to take stock of our relations, and I appreciate the opportunity today to have had a frank, candid and constructive exchange of views with all my interlocutors," Misri told reporters at the foreign ministry today.

"I emphasised on a positive, constructive and mutually beneficial relationship with Bangladesh," he added.

He said they have always seen in the past and will continue to see in the future the relationship as a people-centric and people-oriented relationship—one that has the benefits of all the people as it's central motivational force.

"This is reflected on a daily basis with development projects that have been executed on the ground in Bangladesh and that continue to be developed. It is also reflected in the mutually beneficial engagement we have on a whole set of issues ranging from trade, commerce, connectivity, power, water, energy, development and other areas of cooperation," he added.

Vikram Misri said there is no reason why this mutually beneficial relationship should not continue to develop in the interest of our people.

"To that end, therefore, I have underlined today India's desire to work closely with the interim government of Bangladesh authorities," he said.

At the same time, we also had the opportunity to discuss certain recent developments and issues, and I conveyed our concerns, including those related to the safety and welfare of minorities.

He briefed reporters that they also discussed some regrettable incidents of attacks on cultural, religious and diplomatic properties.

"We expect overall constructive approach on all these issues by the Bangladesh authorities and we look forward to moving the relationship forward in a positive, forward looking and constructive direction."​