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

[Saif]

Tarique Rahman expresses sorrow over India plane tragedy

BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman on Thursday expressed profound shock and sorrow over the tragic crash of an Air India flight carrying 242 passengers in Ahmedabad. "I extend my deepest condolences to the families of all those who lost their loved ones. Let us all stand by them in this time of gr

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Tarique Rahman expresses sorrow over India plane tragedy

UNB
Published :
Jun 13, 2025 01:21
Updated :
Jun 13, 2025 01:21

BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman on Thursday expressed profound shock and sorrow over the tragic crash of an Air India flight carrying 242 passengers in Ahmedabad.

"I extend my deepest condolences to the families of all those who lost their loved ones. Let us all stand by them in this time of grief and share our sincerest prayers," he said in post on Facebook page.

"It is heartbreaking that a London-bound plane, carrying 242 people of many nations, crashed shortly after taking off in India."

In one of India's worst aviation disasters, an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad airport on Thursday, leaving 241 feared dead.

Authorities confirmed that one passenger miraculously survived the crash and is currently undergoing treatment in hospital.​

 

[Saif]

Bangladesh envoy meets Mamata in Kolkata

Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Md Riaz Hamidullah on Monday paid a courtesy call on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata

en.prothomalo.com

Bangladesh envoy meets Mamata in Kolkata

BSS Dhaka
Published: 23 Jun 2025, 21: 39

Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Md. Riaz Hamidullah meet with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata on 23 June 2025. Collected

Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Md Riaz Hamidullah on Monday paid a courtesy call on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at the latter’s office in “Nabanna” in Kolkata, West Bengal.

During the meeting, which was held in a very warm and cordial atmosphere, the Chief Minister requested the High Commissioner to convey her greetings to Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus and to the people of Bangladesh, said a press release issued by the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata.

The West Bengal Chief Minister expressed her strong optimism in further strengthening the long standing and historic relations between the people of Bangladesh and the people of West Bengal.

This marked the first courtesy call on between the newly appointed High Commissioner of Bangladesh and any Chief Minister of India, said the release.

During the meeting, Mamata emphasized that the deep-rooted linguistic, cultural, and identical value-based bonds shared between the people of West Bengal and Bangladesh transcend economic and commercial relations.

She reaffirmed her commitment to maintain continued engagement with Bangladesh in the days to come.

Earlier, on 29 May, Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Hamidullah presented his credentials to the Indian President.​

 

[Saif]

India willing to discuss all issues with Bangladesh in ‘conducive’ environment: Randhir Jaiswal

He emphasised that established modalities exist between Dhaka and Bangladesh, which can deal with a full spectrum of bilateral relations.

en.prothomalo.com

India willing to discuss all issues with Bangladesh in ‘conducive’ environment: Randhir Jaiswal
Prothom Alo English Desk
Updated: 27 Jun 2025, 19: 42

Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson, Randhir JaiswalANI

The spokesperson of the Indian external affairs ministry, Randhir Jaiswal, has said that his country is willing to discuss all issues with Bangladesh in a “conducive” environment.

He came up with the statement on Friday while responding to a query on the renewal of the Ganga Water Sharing Treaty of 1996, reports Indian daily The Hindu.

According to the report, the remarks came at a time when former diplomats and experts are set to address the standing committee on external affairs to discuss the future of the India-Bangladesh relationship.

In his speech, Randhir Jaiswal emphasised that established modalities exist between Dhaka and Bangladesh, which can deal with a full spectrum of bilateral relations.

“We are prepared to engage with Bangladesh on all matters in an environment that is conducive for mutually beneficial dialogue,” the spokesperson was quoted as saying.​

 

[Saif]

India’s ties with Bangladesh must go beyond Hasina era: experts

One expert said India needs to grasp the reality of the new power structure in Bangladesh and move ahead

www.thedailystar.net

India’s ties with Bangladesh must go beyond Hasina era: experts

The Indian Parliamentary Committee on External Affairs was told by experts today that Pakistan and China are making headway in Bangladesh and that India should keep a close tab on the developments in the country and not be caught on the wrong foot, Indian media reports said citing sources.

One expert said India needs to grasp the reality of the new power structure in Bangladesh and move ahead. He said India needs to think and move beyond former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina and engage with the current ruling dispensation in Bangladesh.

The experts told the panel that India should create stakes in Bangladesh and engage with that country through people-to-people contact, The Indian Express has learnt.

The agenda of the meeting was to hear experts on the "Future of India-Bangladesh Relationship".

Four experts in the field of external affairs, including former foreign secretary Shivshankar Menon, Lt Gen (retd) Syed Ata Hasnain, and former high commissioner to Bangladesh Riva Ganguly Das, briefed the parliamentary standing committee on Friday.

Former national security adviser and well-known academician of Jawaharlal Nehru University Amitabh Mattoo also appeared as an expert.

The experts "gave us very good insights and excellent ideas," Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs Chairman Shashi Tharoor said.

Members of the standing committee asked the experts about the probable reasons for the trust deficit between India and Bangladesh and what could be done to mend the relationship.

In reply to a question about infiltration from Bangladesh, he said one figure that has come up before the committee suggests that its number has gone down.

One of the experts is learnt to have told the panel that China is "making a lot of headway" in Bangladesh through infrastructure development like building ports and air bases.

An opposition lawmaker in the committee asked the experts how West Bengal could play a role in improving India's relations with Bangladesh. Sharing of common rivers water was also discussed during the meeting, including the Ganga Water Sharing Treaty which is up for renewal in 2026.Another MP asked if the SAARC can be revived to counter Chinese bid to grow its influence in the region and also floated the idea of exchange of journalists to boost people to people engagement with Bangladesh.​

 

[Saif]

Bangladeshi credit card usage highest in US, India drops to sixth place

The United States tops the list of spending from credit cards issued by Bangladeshi banks

en.prothomalo.com

Bangladeshi credit card usage highest in US, India drops to sixth place
Staff Correspondent Dhaka
Published: 06 Jul 2025, 18: 00

The United States tops the list of spending from credit cards issued by Bangladeshi banks. India was on top the list previously, but it now dropped to sixth place in the list due to decrease in visa issuance.

Meanwhile, debit cards issued by Bangladeshi banks are most frequently used in China, while prepaid cards are most used in the United Kingdom. These figures are from April this year and cover only spending outside the country.

Bangladesh Bank has published its updated report for April this year on domestic and international transactions using credit cards. According to this report, 56 banks and one financial institution in Bangladesh provide credit card services to customers, and the data from these banks were used by the central bank’s statistics department to prepare this report.

The report highlights the usage of credit cards by Bangladeshi citizens abroad, by foreigners inside Bangladesh, and by Bangladeshis domestically. The data shows that Bangladeshis have slightly reduced their use of credit cards for travel and shopping abroad.

According to the central bank’s data, Bangladeshis spent Tk 4.68 billion abroad using credit cards in April this year. This amount is 29.49 per cent higher than the Tk 3.61 billion spent in March. However, on a year-on-year basis, spending in April this year was significantly lower. In April 2024, Bangladeshis had spent Tk 5.06 billion abroad using credit cards — Tk 380 million more than this year.

Regarding the decline in foreign credit card use, bank officials said that after the change of government, the bank accounts of politicians, businesspeople, and professionals associated with the Awami League have been frozen. As a result use of all types of cards by them has been halted. Even if funds are available in their bank accounts, they are unable to spend this money abroad. Additionally, securing visas for countries like India, Middle Eastern countries, Thailand, and Malaysia has become more difficult. This has impacted card transactions abroad.

In April this year, spending in India using Bangladeshi credit cards fell to only Tk 310 million — 68.37 per cent less compared to the same month last year, when Tk 980 million was spent in India.

Among credit card transactions abroad in April, the highest spending was in the United States — nearly Tk 660 billion. This was followed by Tk 470 million in Thailand, Tk 450 million in Singapore, and Tk 430 million each in the United Kingdom and Malaysia.

In April, Tk 3.10 billion was spent abroad using debit cards. Of this, Tk 640 million was spent in China, Tk 360 million in the United States, Tk 290 million in India, Tk 250 million in the United Kingdom, and Tk 240 million in Ireland.

A total of Tk 840 million was spent abroad using prepaid cards. This included Tk 180 million in the United Kingdom, Tk 100 million in the Netherlands, Tk 90 million each in the United States and India, and nearly Tk 70 million in Canada.​

 

[Bilal9]

The agenda of the meeting was to hear experts on the "Future of India-Bangladesh Relationship".

Four experts in the field of external affairs, including former foreign secretary Shivshankar Menon, Lt Gen (retd) Syed Ata Hasnain, and former high commissioner to Bangladesh Riva Ganguly Das, briefed the parliamentary standing committee on Friday.

Former national security adviser and well-known academician of Jawaharlal Nehru University Amitabh Mattoo also appeared as an expert.

The experts "gave us very good insights and excellent ideas," Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs Chairman Shashi Tharoor said.

While the "ways and means" committee formed in the Indian Parliament is a positive sign to "restore trust" WRT building trust with Bangladesh, Indians must understand that Bangladesh (with its new governance structure) will,

1. NOT tow Indian line and "give away the farm" like Hasina did, in terms of either transit or export/import

2. NOT stop collaborating with China for the sake of Indian interest. Even Hasina did not do this.

3. fully expect India to release Bangladesh' rightful share of river waters on all rivers according to prior agreements.

4. Fully expect that bad-mouthing Bangladesh with lies and Indian propaganda using Godi Media will stop and border-killings will be put to a halt.

Ball is in India's court. Let's see if saner heads prevail in Indian leadership.

 

[Saif]

How Delhi can turn page in Dhaka?

WHEN Sheikh Hasina’s 16-year hold on Bangladeshi politics snapped during the student-led uprising in July-August, 2024, few in South Block were prepared for the geopolitical whiplash that followed. After she escaped to India, the interim government of Bangladesh demanded the extradition of...

www.newagebd.net

How Delhi can turn page in Dhaka?
Mohammad Asaduzzaman 11 July, 2025, 00:00

WHEN Sheikh Hasina’s 16-year hold on Bangladeshi politics snapped during the student-led uprising in July-August, 2024, few in South Block were prepared for the geopolitical whiplash that followed. After she escaped to India, the interim government of Bangladesh demanded the extradition of Hasina, which India has so far rejected. This, along with hundreds of other issues, created severe tension in bilateral relations. Bangladesh rejected India’s interference in its internal affairs, and anti-India rhetoric intensified. India, willingly putting ‘all its eggs in the Awami League basket,’ seems yet to process the fact that the eggs are broken and the goose has escaped too.

Amid these challenges, there are signs of reflection and opportunity. Recently, Indian MPs from across party lines have voiced strong support for a forward-looking approach to relations with Bangladesh during a meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs. Emphasising Bangladesh’s strategic importance, they called for rebuilding trust, enhancing cooperation in trade, connectivity and security and supporting Bangladesh’s democratic and economic progress. The move signals a unified political will to strengthen bilateral ties amid shifting regional dynamics. And perhaps this is the time Delhi could turn the page in Dhaka and move on.

Parliamentary panel meeting on Bangladesh

DURING a special meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of External Affairs in the Indian Parliament on June 27, members expressed strong support for a forward-looking and constructive policy toward Bangladesh. Lawmakers from across party lines emphasised the importance of repairing and advancing diplomatic ties with Dhaka, especially in light of evolving regional dynamics. The panel urged the Ministry of External Affairs to pursue initiatives that actively rebuild trust, address recent strains and support Bangladesh’s democratic and economic trajectory. The MPs from different parties on the committee also broadly agreed with it.

The committee, which includes representatives from the Bharatiya Janata Party, Congress and other major political parties, underscored Bangladesh’s strategic relevance as a close neighbour and key partner in South Asia. Former national security adviser Shivshankar Menon, former High Commissioner Riva Ganguly Das, Lt Gen (retd) Syed Ata Hasnain and Jawaharlal Nehru University professor Amitabh Mattoo contributed expertise during the session, which lasted over two hours. The discussion reportedly included expert briefings and policy recommendations, with a focus on long-term collaboration in infrastructure, energy, security and people-to-people ties. Members agreed that maintaining a positive relationship with Bangladesh is essential for regional stability, trade, connectivity and counter-terrorism cooperation.

Moreover, a prolonged stalemate between the neighbouring countries will ultimately not be good for either Delhi or Dhaka. Given this reality, India should gradually take steps to normalize relations with Bangladesh and, even if ‘full engagement’ is not possible at present, attempt to open new avenues of communication through ‘track-two’ or cultural diplomacy. It suggests the Indian state is preparing for a pivot from personality-centric diplomacy to policy-centric engagement. It also opens the door to cultural para-diplomacy, including proposals from MPs to use West Bengal as a soft bridge, leveraging shared language, Tagorean heritage and public cultural events to thaw tensions and re-humanise the relationship.

Rebuilding relationship

BANGLADESH and India are connected in multiple ways, extending beyond just the bilateral relationship between their governments. They share an enduring bond through their common history, culture, land, trans-boundary rivers and adjacent maritime zones. As regional dynamics shift, both Bangladesh and India are recognising the need to renew and rebuild their bilateral relationship. Despite recent tensions over political transitions, border issues and trade imbalances, a growing consensus — both at the governmental and parliamentary levels — emerges that a stable, forward-looking partnership is in the mutual interest of both nations.

In doing so, India needs to recognize that the rules of engagement have changed. The old comfort of hotline diplomacy between prime ministers is gone. Delhi’s envoys are discovering they no longer have a single ‘number to dial,’ but must navigate a mosaic of actors: a caretaker cabinet, a vociferous opposition bloc led by the BNP and a military keen to prove its neutrality. Then, India should shift from personality-centric to institution-centric diplomacy, also known as Track II diplomacy. Hasina’s fall exposed Delhi’s overreliance on a single political relationship. The antidote is broad-spectrum engagement:

Parliamentary caucuses: Invite cross-party Bangladeshi MPs to Delhi for issue-based workshops on water, energy and digital governance.

Civilsociety trackII: Fund joint climateadaptation studies through universities in Sylhet and Guwahati.

Military to military basics: Resume midlevel officer exchanges suspended since last year’s unrest to keep channels with the Bangladesh Armed Forces neutral and professional.

Moreover, Bangladesh is India’s largest South Asian trading partner, yet bilateral trade slipped from $15.9 billion in FY 202324 to $13.4 billion amid last year’s turmoil.

Economically, trade recovery will require the swift removal of mutual restrictions and the revitalisation of connectivity through land ports, waterways and the Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal corridor. A local currency trade settlement mechanism could also serve as a buffer against external financial shocks. Meanwhile, India must acknowledge Bangladesh’s right to pursue diverse international partnerships, even with China and Pakistan, while offering more transparent and sustainable alternatives. Competing with China should be rooted in options, not ultimatums.

Again, Cultural diplomacy and youth engagement hold particular promise. India can enhance its soft power by expanding scholarship opportunities, launching technology incubators and fostering joint artistic ventures. A proposed Bharat-Bangladesh Creative Futures Forum in Kolkata could exemplify this shift. Most importantly, India must adopt a strategic approach to patience. Rather than backing a single political faction, Delhi should support democratic processes and maintain open communication with all credible actors, regardless of ideology.

The turbulence in India-Bangladesh ties is not irreversible. Instead, it’s an opportunity to redefine the relationship, shifting from a top-down, big-brother approach to one rooted in mutual respect and people-first cooperation. Recent parliamentary discussions show that India’s leadership recognises the need for this pivot. If Delhi responds to Dhaka with humility and empathy, respecting Bangladesh’s sovereignty and embracing its evolving political reality, it can repair the rift and establish a deeper, more resilient partnership for the future. The year 2024 disrupted old patterns. 2025 must begin building a new framework. And that effort must start now.

Dr Mohammad Asaduzzaman is a professor of linguistics at the University of Dhaka and director general of the International Mother Language Institute.​

 

[Saif]

Trade with India to go on in public interest: Commerce Adviser

Commerce Adviser Sk Bashir Uddin on Sunday affirmed that trade between Bangladesh and India will continue in the greater interest of consumers and businesses of both nations, emphasising the mutual benefits derived from sustained economic cooperation. "We have not officially been informed of India

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Trade with India to go on in public interest: Commerce Adviser

UNB
Published :
Jul 19, 2025 21:04
Updated :
Jul 19, 2025 21:04

Commerce Adviser Sk Bashir Uddin on Sunday affirmed that trade between Bangladesh and India will continue in the greater interest of consumers and businesses of both nations, emphasising the mutual benefits derived from sustained economic cooperation.

"We have not officially been informed of India's actions yet. Once we receive official information, we will take the necessary steps. If any problem arises, both sides will try to resolve that through discussions. We hope the trade will continue for the benefit of both countries' consumers and business communities," he said while talking to reporters at the Secretariat.

Replying to a question, the adviser said, "From social media and news reports, we have come to know that India has taken certain decisions regarding specific land ports, including Akhaura and Dawki and some border areas."

Asked whether such decisions would negatively affect Bangladesh's exports, Sk Bashir said, "Not everything is exported from our country. A significant amount goes from the garment industry. You know that achieving competitiveness is our main goal. It is beneficial for both parties. We certainly believe that India is also a prosperous country in the textile industry. Even then, when these products are exported from our country, it is based on our capabilities."

It is, however, believed that this will continue for the interest of consumers and production of both countries, he said.

When asked about India's ban on transhipment and exports, the adviser said, "Transhipment has had no real impact on us. We have addressed the issue using our own capabilities."

Responding to another question, whether Indian businesses would also suffer from these restrictions, he said, "Certainly. This is a matter of competitiveness. Our competitiveness and transport costs are factors here. At times, we impose bans on agricultural imports, and so does India. This is part of the ongoing trade management process. If issues arise, we will try to resolve them through discussions."

When asked if the government plans to engage in discussions with India, Bashir said, "We will do whatever is necessary. However, we have not yet been officially notified on this matter."

Asked whether these recent decisions were influenced by the current state of bilateral relations, the adviser said, "My work is related to trade, and I want to stay focused on that. As I've always said, I believe in open trade. Trade is crucial to me. I see no alternative to trade liberalisation and inclusion for enhancing the capacity of our businesses and consumers."

Responding to another question about how Bangladesh plans to reduce the growing trade deficit with India in light of such decisions, the adviser said, "It's a long-term process. Trade deficits can't be addressed overnight. What we source from India, we do as a neighbouring country and India does the same. This is largely influenced by natural factors. We aim to expand trade through diversification and competitiveness."​

 

[Saif]

Streamlining Indian LoC-funded projects

The interim government's decision to cancel 16 development projects worth around US$3.0 billion under India's Line of Credit (LoC) schemes due to excessive delays in both project implementation and fund disbursement by the lender is a step in the right direction. Quoting official sources familiar w

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Streamlining Indian LoC-funded projects

FE
Published :
Jul 20, 2025 23:26
Updated :
Jul 20, 2025 23:26

The interim government's decision to cancel 16 development projects worth around US$3.0 billion under India's Line of Credit (LoC) schemes due to excessive delays in both project implementation and fund disbursement by the lender is a step in the right direction. Quoting official sources familiar with the matter, The Financial Express recently reported that the government has already formed a technical committee to work out an exit plan for the projects on the drop list. The projects selected for cancellation are reportedly under the LoC-2 and LoC-3 financing schemes. Most of these projects have seen little to no progress, mainly due to delays in consultant selection or the absence of necessary approvals from the Indian side. Project implementation under the LoCs had already been sluggish because of stringent conditions attached to the loans; and following the fall of the Hasina government, the situation worsened as Indian contractors and workers abandoned project sites, citing security concerns. As a result, these projects have been left in limbo, making it essential for the government to explore alternative options.

The Indian credit, which began with the first Line of Credit (LoC) worth US$862 million in 2010, increased to US$7.362 billion by 2017 with the addition of two more LoCs. However, only US$1.73 billion has been disbursed since August 5 last year. Under this loan schemes, there were a total of 40 projects including roads, railways, and infrastructure development in shipping and energy sectors. Till date, only 15 projects have been completed, eight are ongoing and the rest remain stalled at preliminary stages, either in the process of selecting consultants and contractors or still preparing proposals.

The loan schemes were present as soft loans, as they carried an interest rate of just 1.0 per cent. However, the terms of the loans have proven far from favourable as they came with stringent conditions. For example, a key stipulation requires Bangladesh to source 75 per cent of project materials including goods and services from India. Moreover, only Indian contractors have been awarded these projects, and it has been alleged that they inflated costs at their own discretion. Worse still, every stage of implementation, from land acquisition and tender preparation to design and final approval, is subjected to approval from the Exim Bank of India. A significant portion of the workforce also consists of Indian nationals. Given these constraints, questions have been raised as to why Bangladesh agreed to such loan terms in the first place, apparently at the expense of national sovereignty.

Many have also raised questions about the true motives behind the construction of some of these projects. A number the projects under these LoCs, including the construction of roads and railways on certain routes, would primarily benefit India, as the Awami League government had been actively working towards granting India transit facilities to transport goods to its northeastern states through Bangladesh. How absurd it was that Bangladesh was constructing infrastructure to serve Indian interests, even while agreeing to harsh and self-defeating loan terms. It is therefore time to launch a thorough investigation into the LoC-funded projects and scrap those that have made little to no progress.

Admittedly, Bangladesh needs foreign fund to develop infrastructure, across different sectors such as power and energy, transport, urban and social to support its growing economy, urbanisation and large population. As Bangladesh aims to enhance its global trade competitiveness and sustain its growth momentum in the post-LDC era, robust infrastructure development will be critical. Introduction of infrastructure bonds could help bridge the financing gap reducing reliance on foreign loans of stringent and unfavourable terms.​