Bangladesh-India Relations Challenges and Opportunities

Abstract

Bangladesh -India relationship has been prized with strong historical and
cultural background. But both sides seem to be cautious about keeping this relationship.
Bangladesh shares 4094 kilometers of land border with India on three sides, the fourth
side being open to the Bay of Bengal. Despite lot of success over the years, various
issues are still unsettled which need to be resolved in order to continue this relationship.
These include sharing the water of 54 international rivers that flow from India to
Bangladesh, controlling terrorism and promoting economic development as well as
building neighboring relationship. This paper attempts to investigate emerging issues.
i.e. border dispute, drug and human trafficking, smugglings, trade and investment,
water disputes, environmental degradation which are apparent bases of divergence in
the pursuit of bilateral relations between Bangladesh and India.