🌑Knowledge Drop – 80: India–Bangladesh Relations at a Crossroads | Parliamentary Panel Warning
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India–Bangladesh Relations at a Crossroads | Parliamentary Panel Warning
Post Date: 2 January 2026
Syllabus: GS Paper II | International Relations
Theme: Neighbourhood First × Act East × Regional Security
📍 Context
A Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs has warned that India faces its most formidable strategic challenge in Bangladesh since the 1971 Liberation War, following political upheavals in Dhaka and rising external influence in the region.
🔎 Why This Matters (UPSC Lens)
Bangladesh is not just a neighbour.
It is India’s eastern pivot for:
- Act East Policy
- Northeast integration
- Bay of Bengal security
- Regional connectivity
- Water and energy diplomacy
A disruption here reverberates across India’s strategic architecture.
🧩 Core Developments Highlighted by the Committee
1️⃣ Strategic Disruption after 2024 Regime Change
- The ousting of PM Sheikh Hasina (2024) ended a decade-long strategic alignment.
- Her death sentence (Nov 2025) by interim authorities further polarised the political environment.
- India’s traditional diplomatic comfort zone in Dhaka has visibly narrowed.
2️⃣ Emergence of a New Political Order
- Awami League banned from political activity and barred from Feb 2026 elections.
- Rise of the National Citizen Party (NCP) led by student activists.
- Opens political and economic space for China and Pakistan to expand influence.
3️⃣ Growing External Influence
- China and Turkey increasing footprint in:
- Infrastructure
- Defence cooperation
- Strategic financing
- Risk of erosion of India’s long-held strategic primacy.
4️⃣ Cooling of Bilateral Ties
- Shift towards a more nationalistic and less India-friendly posture.
- Rise in anti-India sentiment.
- Protests targeting Indian diplomatic missions, including the Indian High Commission in Dhaka (Dec 2025).
5️⃣ Connectivity and Economic Cooperation at Risk
- Political uncertainty threatens flagship initiatives:
- India–Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline
- Cross-border rail and port connectivity
- These projects symbolise not just trade, but strategic interdependence.
6️⃣ Regional and Security Implications
- Bangladesh is central to:
- Neighbourhood First
- Act East
- Indo-Pacific vision
- Shared 4,096 km border makes cooperation vital for:
- Border management
- Counterterrorism
- Migration control
- Anti-smuggling operations
7️⃣ Ganga Water Treaty: A Strategic Clock is Ticking
- Treaty expires December 2026.
- No formal bilateral talks initiated yet.
- India has begun internal consultations with states.
- Committee urges early engagement to avoid a post-2026 vacuum and political hardening.
🧭 Big Picture Takeaway (for GS Answers)
India–Bangladesh relations are moving from comfort-driven diplomacy to contest-driven diplomacy, where narrative management, delivery speed, and people-centric engagement will matter as much as strategic intent.
🪔 IAS Monk Whisper
“In diplomacy, distance grows not when borders harden,
but when conversations pause.”
Target IAS-2026+: Highly Expected Prelims MCQs :
📌 Prelims Practice MCQs
Topic:
MCQ 1 | TYPE 1 — How Many Statements Are Correct?
Consider the following statements regarding recent developments in India–Bangladesh relations:
1)The Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs described India’s current challenge in Bangladesh as the most serious since 1971.
2)The disruption in bilateral relations followed a regime change in Bangladesh in 2024.
3)The Awami League continues to participate in Bangladesh’s February 2026 elections.
How many of the above statements are correct?
A)Only one
B)Only two
C)All three
D)None
🌀 Didn’t get it? Click here (▸) for the Correct Answer & Explanation.
🟩 Correct Answer:B) Only two
🧠 Explanation:
1)✅ True – The committee explicitly termed it the gravest strategic challenge since the 1971 Liberation War.
2)✅ True – The 2024 regime change marked a turning point in bilateral relations.
3)❌ False – Awami League has been banned from political activity and barred from contesting the February 2026 elections.
MCQ 2 | TYPE 2 — Two-Statement Type
Consider the following statements:
Statement I: Bangladesh is central to India’s Act East Policy due to its geographic position connecting mainland India with the Northeast.
Statement II: Weakening of India–Bangladesh relations can directly affect border security and counterterrorism cooperation.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A)Only Statement I is correct
B)Only Statement II is correct
C)Both Statement I and Statement II are correct
D)Neither Statement I nor Statement II is correct
🌀 Didn’t get it? Click here (▸) for the Correct Answer & Explanation.
🟩 Correct Answer: C)Both Statement I and Statement II are correct
🧠 Explanation:
Statement I ✅ True – Bangladesh is the geographic and logistical bridge for Act East and Northeast integration.
Statement II ✅ True – The 4,096 km shared border makes cooperation on terrorism, trafficking, and migration essential.
MCQ 3 | TYPE 3 — Code-Based Statement Selection
Which of the following factors contribute to diminishing India’s strategic space in Bangladesh?
1)Rise of nationalist political narratives in Dhaka
2)Increased Chinese and Turkish engagement in infrastructure and defence
3)Delay in renewal discussions of the Ganga Water Treaty
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
A)1 and 2 only
B)2 and 3 only
C)1 and 3 only
D)1, 2 and 3
🌀 Didn’t get it? Click here (▸) for the Correct Answer & Explanation.
🟩 Correct Answer: D)1, 2 and 3
🧠 Explanation:
1)✅ True – Nationalistic posture has cooled India-friendly diplomacy.
2)✅ True – External powers are expanding influence through infrastructure and defence ties.
3)✅ True – Delay in water treaty talks risks diplomatic vacuum and politicisation.
MCQ 4 | TYPE 4 — Direct Factual Question
Which one of the following reflects India–Bangladesh energy cooperation?
A)India–Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline
B)Maitree Super Thermal Power Plant
C)BBIN Motor Vehicles Agreement
D)Dhaka–Kolkata Express Cargo Corridor
🌀 Didn’t get it? Click here (▸) for the Correct Answer & Explanation.
🟩 Correct Answer: B)Maitree Super Thermal Power Plant
🧠 Explanation:
Maitree Super Thermal Power Plant is a joint power generation project.
The pipeline transports fuel, not electricity.
BBIN and cargo corridor are connectivity initiatives.
MCQ 5 | TYPE 5 — UPSC 2025 Linkage Reasoning Format (I, II, III)/ Matching Type
With reference to India–Bangladesh relations, consider the following pairs:
1)Sampriti – Joint military exercise
2)Bongo Sagar – Naval exercise
3)Suborno Jayanti Scholarship – Human resource development initiative
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
A)1 and 2 only
B)2 and 3 only
C)1 and 3 only
D)1, 2 and 3
🌀 Didn’t get it? Click here (▸) for the Correct Answer & Explanation.
🟩 Correct Answer:D)1, 2 and 3
🧠 Explanation:
1)✅ True
2)✅ True
3)✅ True
📘 Knowledge Drop–80
Prelims Booster Notes (1-Page | Ultra-Crisp)
Topic: India–Bangladesh Relations at a Crossroads
GS: Paper II – International Relations
Keywords: Neighbourhood First, Act East, Bay of Bengal, Water Diplomacy
1️⃣ Why Bangladesh Matters to India
- Geostrategic hinge between mainland India and Northeast
- Gateway to Act East Policy and Southeast Asia
- Central to Bay of Bengal security and Indo-Pacific vision
- India shares a 4,096 km land border with Bangladesh (longest with any neighbour)
2️⃣ Recent Political Developments (2024–26)
- Regime change in 2024 ended a decade-long strategic alignment
- Former PM Sheikh Hasina ousted; later sentenced to death (Nov 2025)
- Awami League banned from political activities
- Barred from February 2026 elections
- Rise of National Citizen Party (NCP) led by student activists
3️⃣ Parliamentary Committee’s Core Warning
- India faces its gravest strategic challenge since 1971 Liberation War
- Strategic space shrinking due to:
- Political realignment in Dhaka
- Cooling of bilateral ties
- Delayed diplomatic engagement
4️⃣ External Powers Factor
- China & Turkey expanding influence in:
- Infrastructure projects
- Defence cooperation
- Risk of undermining India’s traditional primacy
- Opens indirect space for Pakistan in political narratives
5️⃣ Security & Border Management
- Shared border necessitates cooperation on:
- Counterterrorism
- Illegal migration
- Narcotics & human trafficking
- Fake currency networks
- Regular DG-level talks between border forces and agencies
6️⃣ Connectivity & Trade (At Risk)
- Railways: 6 pre-1965 rail links restored
- Passenger trains:
- Maitri Express
- Bandhan Express
- Mitali Express
- Ports: Chittagong & Mongla opened for Indian transit (2023)
- BBIN MVA improves Northeast logistics
- Political instability threatens continuity
7️⃣ Economic & Energy Cooperation
- Bangladesh is India’s largest trade partner in South Asia
- FY 2023–24 trade: USD 14.01 billion
- Bangladesh imports 1,160 MW electricity from India
- Key projects:
- Maitree Super Thermal Power Plant
- India–Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline (diesel transport)
8️⃣ Development Partnership
- USD 8 billion Lines of Credit
- India’s largest development partner country
- 77 completed + 16 ongoing HICDPs
- Capacity building:
- ITEC training
- Suborno Jayanti Scholarships (1,000)
9️⃣ Ganga Water Treaty (Critical)
- Treaty expires December 2026
- No formal bilateral talks yet
- India consulting internal stakeholders
- Parliamentary panel urges early engagement to avoid vacuum
🔑 Prelims Takeaway Lines
Water treaties require anticipatory diplomacy, not deadline diplomacy
Bangladesh is central to Neighbourhood First + Act East
Strategic influence today flows through connectivity, energy & narratives
Delay in diplomacy creates space for external actors
⚡ Knowledge Drop–80:
20 Flash Words (Prelims)
1)Bangladesh—India’s eastern strategic hinge
2)Gravest challenge since 1971
3)Parliamentary Standing Committee warning
4)Regime change—2024
5)Sheikh Hasina—ousted
6)Death sentence—November 2025
7)Awami League—banned
8)February 2026 elections
9)National Citizen Party (NCP)
10)Student-led political movement
11)Rising China influence
12)Turkey—defence & infrastructure
13)Shrinking strategic space
14)Anti-India protests—Dhaka
15)4,096 km shared border
16)Act East Policy pivot
17)Bay of Bengal security
18)Ganga Water Treaty—2026 renewal
19)Connectivity at risk
20)Anticipatory diplomacy essential