INDIA vs BANGLADESH••••
With the withdrawal of the British from the Indian sub-continent in 1947, India and Pakistan gained their independence, while Bangladesh remained a state of Pakistan with the name East Pakistan in this religious division. When the dates showed 1970, even though East Pakistan won a number of seats that could be ruling alone for the first time in the elections held in 1970, President Yahya Khan did not allow the assembly to convene with the thought that the national security of the country would be in danger. This situation caused riots in East Pakistan and Bangladesh declared its independence under the leadership of Mucibur Rahman in 1971 with a war that included India. In Bangladesh, whose foreign policy has been shaped according to the parties that have been in power since its independence, Pakistan is generally ignored due to the influence of the past, and India, which plays a key role in its independence, is preferred as a foreign policy partner. However, although India is seen as the biggest supporter of independence by Bangladeshis, the relations between India and Bangladesh have continued to this day in a problematic way within the framework of the master-friend metaphor. In this study, which deals with India-Bangladesh relations, the general problems that determine the course of the relations between the parties are addressed, and the preferability of India in Bangladesh foreign policy is discussed together with its main reasons.
1.Login
In the international system where the globalization and hierarchy concept has become clear, it is seen that the security strategies of small states consist of survival policies that are affected by the fear complex. Looking at the relations of Bangladesh with India, it is understood that the security concern, that is, the survival of the state, is taken as a basis. In a geopolitical basin with major regional actors such as China and India, Bangladesh tends to use the opportunities between different actors in their own interests, pursuing a policy of opportunism and balance politics to protect its interests.
It is seen that the main factor that has determined the course of Bangladesh-India relations since its independence is directly proportional to the ideologies of the powers in these countries. While these relations frequently change course with regime changes, it is observed that an endless state of unrest and distrust between the parties continues. Although India acted with Bangladesh on many issues in order to prevent Bangladesh from approaching Pakistan in the first years of its relations, it could not bring the country closer to India due to the pro-Pakistani Islamic groups within Bangladesh. As a matter of fact, India, which has become the dominant party of India-Bangladesh relations with its determining role in the independence of Bangladesh, signed the Friendship and Peace Agreement with Bangladesh in 1972 and tried to make its weight felt in the country in every aspect. Trying to shape the relations in the context of the "master-friend metaphor" after this date, India has also emphasized that although it is the master in relations, it is the best friend of Bangladesh against Pakistan and China. However, without completing its internal integration to become a sovereign-state in a short time like 4 years after independence - in 1975, with the assassination of Sheikh Mucibbur Rahman, the founding leader of the country, the policies carried out to create a Bangladeshi identity, in the long run, they did not bring the peoples of the country together. It is claimed that it has turned into policies that separate it further.
The Cold Peace situation has been maintained between India and Bangladesh since 1971. Looking at the general framework, the relations between the parties turn into tension and conflicts from time to time. The two countries' border lines being suspended, the inability to share transboundary river waters, the issue of transit corridors and illegal immigration from Bangladesh to India are the main issues that determine the course of the relations between the parties, while the resistance groups operating in both countries use each other's country also bring the parties against each other. .
It is seen that these bilateral relations, which develop under the shadow of these problems, can be overlooked when the geopolitical dependence of the countries on each other is in question. It is possible to say that Bangladesh, surrounded by Indian lands on three sides, has a geopolitical dependence on Bangladesh in terms of both security and financial aspects in transportation and trade to the northeast states, as well as the dependence of Bangladesh on India.
Hasina Vecid, who gave India many privileges in this direction especially during the Modi period as a result of the financial and political support it obtained, also prepares the ground for Bangladesh to act with India in foreign policy.
In Bangladesh, where foreign policy discourses are shaped according to the ideologies of the ruling party, it is seen that until 1971, a foreign policy preference was made on the axis of India rather than Pakistan, of which it was a part. According to the current ruling Party Awami League, which thought of being exploited or not well governed by Pakistan from 1947 to 1971, reasons such as India's decisive role in the war of independence and Bangladesh being a secular country were the main reasons for the preference of India in foreign policy. of the reasons. On the other hand, it argues that the coalition, which is the main opposition of the country, including the Jamaat Islami and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (Bangladesh Narionalist Party - BNP), should be based on a religion-based nationalism and act together with Pakistan in foreign policy.
In this study, in the light of the modern history of India-Bangladesh relations, the decisive role played by India in the Bangladesh independence war will also be discussed. Subsequently, the main factors that determine the relations between the parties will be addressed and the problems that are up-to-date today will be emphasized. In the current studies dealing with India-Bangladesh relations, the geopolitical dependence of Bangladesh on India will be discussed in this study. Finally, despite the common religion and culture it shares with Pakistan, it will be mentioned that Pakistan has remained in the background in foreign policy since 1971, and the preference of India in foreign policy will be examined together with its main reasons and the study will be completed with the conclusion part where the general assessment is made.
2. MODERN HISTORY OF BENGAL REGION AND INDIA - BANGLADESH RELATIONS
The relations of India and Bangladesh, which share a common destiny in the same geography, date back long before the independence of the two countries. Today's countries, which started to be governed from the same center with the conquest of India by the Mughal forces, were then directly linked to the Queen and the British government when the 1857 Great Sipahi uprising was suppressed, and was ruled from a single center until 1947. The region, known as the Bengal state during the British period, had a population of 78 million, including the provinces of Bihar and Orisa. However, as part of the British policy of divide and rule, the state of Bengal was divided into two in 1905 with the approval of Lord Kurzon, and West Bengal, Bihar and Orisa were separated from East Bengal. The division of the historical Bengal country into two was protested in many parts of India by Congress leaders, especially East Bengal, and the protests resulted in the boycott decision against British goods in many regions. Increasing events also increased the desire for India to be a dominion. The British administration, which had to take a step back as a result of these events, withdrew the law of dividing Bengal into two and decided to reunite the country of Bengal except Bihar and Orisa. [1]
During the British period, the relations of the countries ruled by the same government in the center, although not local, continued after 1947. In 1947, following the British decision to withdraw from the sub-continent, the peoples of the region gained their independence. The independence of India and Pakistan in 1947 as a result of the division based on the religion-based "two nations" theory was an important moment for the people of the Indian subcontinent, who lived under the British colony for years. According to the division plan, it was decided to join Pakistan, although there was no common land border between the people of Bangladesh because they were Muslim. As a result of this religious-based separation, the territory of Bangladesh remained as a province of Pakistan with the name of East Pakistan until 1971. [2] After 1947, the people of Bangladesh, who continued their relations with India as a result of the regional integrity even when they were affiliated with Pakistan under the name of East Pakistan, started to express independence after the 1970s. [3]
It is seen that Mucibur Rahman, who was the candidate for prime minister from East Pakistan in the 1970 Pakistani general elections, promised autonomy for Bangladesh if he won. [4] Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, who won 88 seats, remained the main opposition leader, while Mucibur Rahman's party, which won 167 of 313 seats [5], came out as the first party. President Yahya Han, who did not accept the victory of a party from East Pakistan, did not allow the convening of the parliament and demanded the cancellation of the elections. [6] Failure to transfer the post of prime minister to Mucibur Rahmana with the thoughts that Pakistan's integrity would be endangered, caused incidents throughout the state in East Pakistan and riots against the central government started. [7] The arrest of Mucibur Rahman by the Pakistan army on the grounds that he led the events and the declaration of martial law in Dhaka on March 25, 1971 caused the events to grow even more and turn into a struggle for independence. [8]
Mucibur Rahman, who was arrested on March 26, announced that Bangladesh declared its independence before his arrest, which is among the main reasons that pushed the people to fight against the Pakistani army. The increasing pressure and the arrest of prominent party executives had great repercussions, especially among students. [9] The growth of the conflicts between the East Pakistanis and the army caused India to get involved. Confronted with a massive immigration influx as the Bengals fleeing the conflict began to flee to India, India entered East Pakistan lands in 1971 on the grounds that immigration disturbed the peace and stability of India and Pakistan was the cause of this. [10]
Claiming that India was in occupying attitudes in Bangladesh territory, Pakistan declared war against India in both Eastern and Western Pakistan. Pakistan, which could not send support to the soldiers in East Pakistan, lost the war on both fronts as a result of the division of East and West Pakistan with Indian territories, the absence of land and sea borders between the two sides, and the Indian airspace being closed to Pakistan in case of war. With the capture of approximately 93 thousand Pakistani soldiers to India [11], a ceasefire had to be declared on December 15, 1971, and as a result, East Pakistan announced its independence under the name Bangladesh. [12] India, which played a decisive role in the independence of Bangladesh, tried to maintain its relations with Bangladesh as a friendly country after this date.
2.1. The Role of India in the Independence of Bangladesh
The role of Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in the Bangladesh war of independence was great. Indira Gandhi has sought support by visiting various leading countries in the world in order to make Bangladesh an independent state from Pakistan. Gandhi, who tried to solve the problem with the support of countries such as the USA, Britain and the USSR, turned to the Soviet Union when he could not find the support he expected from the USA. India, which signed the Friendship and Peace Agreement with Soviet Russia on August 9, 1971, was backed by the Soviet support and gained the Soviet guarantee against the aid from the USA to Pakistan. Then gradually Bangladesh became a side of the war of independence. [13]
Gandhi stated that Pakistani soldiers carried out a bloody operation in the incidents that took place in East Pakistan and later turned into a civil war, and immediately after the start of the conflict, India closed its air and land area to Pakistan, preventing Pakistan from sending reinforcements to Bangladesh, and provided military ammunition support. When Gandhi saw that the Bengali insurgents led by the leader of the Awami League, Mucibur Rahman, to whom he provided economic and military support, could not succeed, he ordered the Indian army to intervene in the civil war. [14]
In the face of Pakistan's claim that the incident was a civil war in the international public opinion, India tried to establish a legitimate ground for its intervention by claiming that the scale of the conflict ceased to be a civil war and that Pakistan caused millions of Bengali to migrate to India. As a result of the war turning into an India-Pakistan war, a ceasefire was declared with the call of the UN Security Council and the great powers of the period and the independence of Bangladesh became clear.
Bangladesh, which gained its independence under these conditions, did not miss to express its gratitude to India for its political and military support on the day of independence. [15] In the first years of its independence, the relationship of the parties was shaped around the feeling of gratitude and Bangladesh launched India as a safe harbor against Pakistan. However, in the years following the assassination of Mucibbur Rahman, Bangladesh's national interests started to dominate and Dhaka started to emphasize the equal-sovereign country by criticizing India's view of itself as the master side of relations. After this period, relations have turned into a tidal structure as a result of Bangladesh's demand for its rights in many issues and have come to the present day.
3. PROBLEMS DETERMINING THE TREATMENT OF INDIA-BANGLADESH RELATIONS
Although India is seen as the biggest supporter of independence by Bangladeshis, relations between India and Bangladesh have continued to this day with their unsolved problems. Stating that it is uncomfortable with India's ambitious armament, especially nuclear tests following its independence, Bangladesh is also in disagreement with India on transboundary waters and borderline issues. On the other hand, India has been very insistent on the return of the refugees who have immigrated to India since 1971 to Bangladesh and today this wall continues with the NRC. Indicating that Bangladesh also does not take a stance against illegal immigration, India is putting pressure on Bangladesh to take the necessary precautions by claiming that many organizations carrying out action in India are sheltering in Bangladesh territory.
3.1. Sharing Waters
The sharing of transboundary waters in almost every part of the world causes great problems and even conflicts between riparian countries. Among these regions, South Asia has an important share. Both India-Pakistan and India-Bangladesh are among the bilateral countries with intense water problems.
India and Bangladesh share over 50 river waters, both large and small. Some of these rivers are of vital importance to both the people of India and Bangladesh, who live on agriculture, and for the economy. Considering the population density and the increasing population of the countries, the water need of both countries increases day by day. [16] India, which is expected to be the most populous country in the world in 2030, is in great need of the water of these rivers. In order to meet this need, India is building multi-purpose dams on the rivers flowing towards Bangladesh, as well as the dams it has built on the waters flowing into Pakistan. While this situation leads to the confrontation of both countries, it sometimes leads to verbal conflicts between the governments in power.
Today, there are two main problems that are at the center of discussions on the sharing of water between the two countries. One of them is the Farakka Dam and the other is the sharing of the waters of the Teesta River. When looking at the Farakka dam issue, it is seen that the objections that this issue is against the Friendship, Cooperation and Peace Agreement signed between Indian Prime Minister Indra Gandhi and Bangladesh Prime Minister Mucibur Rahman continues to this day. [17] According to the agreement, a joint commission should be established for the sharing of river waters of the two countries, and a fair distribution is planned considering the sensitivities of the parties related to the dams to be built by India. [18]
When India's need for water increased, which accelerated the industrialization process after the 1980s, it began to violate the provisions of the agreement, requiring the signing of a water agreement in 1996. [19] According to the agreement that guarantees the division of the Ganges river waters between the parties, it is planned that the river waters to be shared with Bangladesh will flow from the Farakka dam. [20] However, given the terms of the agreement, Bangladeshi officials claim that the Indian side violated the agreement unilaterally and reduced or increased the flow of water seasonally. [21] Stating that this situation harms the economy of Bangladesh, which needs water economically more than India, Bangladesh side states that the situation also causes drought and seasonal soil erosion in the region. [22] In the face of these claims, the Indian side claims that Bangladesh sees the issue as more pessimistic than it is and that the water has been shared as foreseen in the agreement. [23]
Looking at the Teesta River issue, it is seen that the Teesta River is another transboundary river that causes dispute between India and Bangladesh. The Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, developed a draft agreement in 2010 to resolve the issue of sharing the waters of the Teesta river and stated that the water should be shared fairly between both countries during the drought season. [24] After the Indian side viewed the draft agreement positively, it was decided to sign a related agreement within a year. However, despite the signed agreement, the Bangladesh side states that the agricultural lands of Bangladesh were flooded as a result of India's opening of the dam gates during the rainy season. The issue of sharing river water, which has been going on for a long time between the parties, is one of the main problems that need to be solved, given the effects of climate change. [25] The issue of water sharing, which is one of the most damaged issues in bilateral relations today, is one of the main issues that need to be resolved in order for India's Look East policy to succeed.
3.2. Economic-Transit Corridor Issue
The fact that Bangladesh is among the Indian territories from three sides means that it is dependent on India, and at the same time, it shows that India is geopolitically dependent on Bangladesh in terms of dividing its territories. The location of Bangladesh separates the Indian mainland and the Northeast states. The distance between Kalkuta, the capital of the West Bengal state of India, west of Bangladesh, and Agartala, the capital of Tripura state, east of Bangladesh lands, decreases from 1,880 kilometers to about 740 kilometers with the transit road recognized through Bangladesh. In addition to having its airspace open to India, India intends to use the lands of Bangladesh especially for economic activities. [26]
In order for goods transported from the northeast of India to reach the mainland by the shortest route, Bangladesh lands must be open for transit use. Despite India's policy of pressure on Bangladesh to allow rail and road crossing corridors to connect its territory with the northeastern states, Bangladesh postpones the problem by making a constant reservation on the grounds that this situation will pose a possible threat to its national security. [27]
In addition to Bangladesh's national security concerns, it is prevented by India's views that a bilateral route can support terrorism. [28] India generally states that it will be given a one-sided transit pass and it will only be used for economic purposes. It seems that Bangladesh's desire to close the trade deficit with India by obtaining significant financial benefits from the transit can be effective in recognizing a wide-ranging transit transit route privilege. There is also a situation where Bangladesh stipulates other important issues, especially the sharing of the waters with India and the border issues, as a condition for the solution of the transit route issue. [29]
In recent years, it is seen that India and Bangladesh have managed to develop the cross-border transportation system to a great extent. When it comes to the Narendra Modi Government's economic promises and financial support to Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, who has good relations with Modi, seems to have largely accepted the issue in 2017. [30] It is seen that the transportation corridor between the two countries, which was largely agreed upon during the Modi rule, has been operational in some sectors for now. [31] However, in Bangladesh, which is trying to gain some opportunities in economic and commercial areas by providing a 14-mile wide corridor to India, the situation in question is being reshaped according to the ruling party. [32] Therefore, it is thought that the recognition of the right to a comprehensive transit corridor as desired by India will occupy the political agenda of both governments in the future.
3.3. Existence of Resistance Groups
The allegations that the rebel groups responsible for the attacks in the northeastern states of India for years have used Bangladesh territory as a base constitute one of the main issues in India-Bangladesh relations. Complaining that Bangladesh has not conducted any operations against rebel groups, New Delhi claims that the groups involved in demonstrations in India are hosted in Bangladesh and are trained and directed by the Pakistani intelligence agency ISI. [33] Stating that Bangladesh lands have become a safe haven for rebel groups, New Delhi is known to have problems in relations with Dhaka for this reason. On the other hand, Bangladesh blames New Delhi by stating that it has been struggling with an uprising in the Chittagong part of the south of the country for the last few years, stating that these rebel groups have sheltered in Indian territory and received the necessary logistical support from India-based groups. [34]
In such cases, it is likely that the rebel groups on both sides will have the effect of spreading in the region where border security and control is weak, where they took refuge in each other's country or by using cross-border roads to carry illegal weapons. In addition to the recent discourses that the parties act together on the issue of cross-border terrorism [35], it is seen that this situation remains an obstacle for the parties to develop close relations.
3.4. Illegal immigration incidents
India blames Bangladesh for changing the demographic structure of India, especially the northeastern states, by not preventing illegal immigration. In this situation, which is called "demographic aggression" by India, it is stated that approximately 25.000 Bangladeshi crossing the borders illegally enter India every year and a significant part of it never returns. While India blames Bangladesh for not taking the necessary measures to prevent illegal immigration, she states that they are concerned that the situation has accelerated terrorism in the Indian territories. [36] Although Bangladesh denies these accusations, India is trying to refute the opposite claims of Bangladesh by claiming that the illegal arrivals from Bangladesh are about three million and the number of Bangladeshi citizens living in India is between 15 and 17 million. [37]
These claims, which are not fully confirmed empirically, still exist as a metaphor for conflict in terms of the relations between the two countries. However, it should be noted that both the territories in which Bangladesh is located are divided lands and the socio-economic and cultural unity of the region are among the triggers of this situation. While it is known that millions of Bengali who fled from the conflicts that broke out before the independence of Bangladesh in 1971 took refuge in India, it is claimed that a significant part of the refugees did not return. It is observed that New Delhi, which claims to have carried out studies to reduce illegal immigrants in the country with the census implemented in the state of Assam, has serious problems with Dhaka. However, due to the dependencies of the parties to each other at certain points, it is seen that these problems are sustained without a solution and conflict within the context of India's status quo foreign policy logic. Despite the diversity of the aforementioned problems, not only Bangladesh is dependent on India, but also India has geopolitical dependence on Bangladesh for the reasons mentioned. While this situation brings countries against each other in times of tension, it is also an important guarantee that relations do not break completely.
4. GUARANTEE OF RELATIONS: THE EXAMPLE OF GEOPOLITIC ADDICTION
If we define geopolitics as geographical location / situation, this will be important in understanding Bangladesh-India relations. As a matter of fact, it is seen that approximately 90% of Bangladesh lands are surrounded by Indian lands, while 10% of the remaining land border is within the border of Myanmar. Bangladesh, which has a land border only with India and Myanmar, has a coast to the Bay of Bengal. However, considering the presence of the Indian navy in the Bay of Bengal, it is seen that Bangladesh is not in a geopolitical position against India.
However, it does not go unnoticed that the concept of geopolitics is not suitable for unilateral use in this region where the borders are very complex. Contrary to what is said, it is seen that not only Bangladesh is dependent on Indian lands due to its location, but also India is dependent on Bangladesh. As a matter of fact, the territories of Bangladesh separating the Northeastern states of India from the mainland of India are of vital importance in terms of India's interaction with these states. It is seen that the only transportation of India with these states, namely the land border, is the Sikkim state pass, which is also known as the chicken neck [38] in the literature. However, considering the geographical conditions of the region, it is seen that in the highly mountainous region, India does not provide access with other states in a difficult and troublesome way and therefore needs to use Bangladesh lands as transit. [39]
At the same time, the strategic importance of Bangladesh lands increases even more against a possible Chinese attack. The capture of the Sikkim state pass, which connects India to other states, with a sudden attack, condemns India to Bangladesh territory in order to provide logistical support. It should not be overlooked that the same situation is used in Bangladesh and Pakistan division. As a matter of fact, it will be easier for India to continue its relations with other regions by using the territory of Bangladesh, which is 14 miles according to this agreement, in a possible Chinese attack. This situation more easily reveals the strategic importance of Bangladesh lands for India. [40]
Therefore, it has to use Bangladesh lands as transit for India's transportation to these states, also known as seven sisters. It is physically dependent on Bangladesh to continue its trade and economic activities with other regions. For this, Bangladesh is trying to gain some opportunities in economic and commercial fields by providing India with a 14-mile wide corridor, and considering this situation as India's weak point, it implements an opportunism policy. [41]
In 1947, when the British left the Indian subcontinent, they were hurriedly drawn and left border problems that continue to this day. One of the problems in question is the existence of certain regions of both countries within the territory of the other.
5.1. India's Play a Decisive Role in the Bangladesh War of Independence
India has made important contributions to Bangladesh's gaining independence in 1971. India, which played a key role in both opening its borders to millions of refugees fleeing the conflict and providing political and military support to the Bangladeshi resistance, and achieving the independence of Bangladesh as a direct party to the war, thus gained the favor of the people of the region. The death of more than three thousand and five hundred Indian soldiers in the war created a sense of loyalty towards India on the Bangladesh front. [43] In addition, the support provided by the Soviet Union during the period of the war is an important reason why Bangladesh sees India as a safe harbor. As a matter of fact, it is said that Pakistan, which was the representative of the Western Bloc in South Asia at that time, also closely cooperated with China, prompting Bangladesh to approach India, which was in good relations with the Soviet Union. [44]
5.2. Determination of India-USA and Pakistan-China Alliances in Bangladesh Foreign Policy
During the Cold War, while Pakistan preferred the Western Bloc, India pursued the policy of maintaining relations with both sides with the Non-Aligned Movement. However, India's leadership of the Non-Alignment Movement does not mean that it conducts a neutral policy between the USA and the USSR. In this period, although India tried to appear neutral, it remained mostly close to the socialist bloc. As a matter of fact, considering that the majority of the Indian defense industry was procured from the USSR during the Cold War, the reality of this situation is understood. [45]
Following the path followed by India, Bangladesh, which gained its independence during this period, took it away from Pakistan and brought it closer to Soviet Russia. However, Bangladesh's pro-USSR policy has changed after the Cold War depending on the India-USA relations. The withdrawal of the USSR from Afghanistan and its subsequent dissolution brought the Western Bloc victory with it, as well as reduced the US need for Pakistan. On the other hand, it is seen that India, which is trying to reduce its dependence on Russia, which is losing power, has started to develop good relations with western countries, especially the USA, by following a policy of opening up. Aware of the potential of India in the region, the USA continued its aid to India during the Cold War period after the Cold War and started to carry out the power struggle in the region through India. India's having good relations with the USA has led Bangladesh to follow a pro-US policy. Although this situation is not directly stated, the foreign aid provided by the USA to Bangladesh during and after the Cold War also played an important role in this choice. [46]
On the other hand, China, which has grown in a way to shake the unipolar order after 2000, has become a possible rival of the USA. In this case, it is seen that when the USA wanted to surround China in the region - just as it was in the period of the USSR - it tried to do so through its representatives in the region. In this respect, Bangladesh, which has close relations with India, has entered the US axis in a way not to oppose China. The USA, on the other hand, tries to prevent the country from entering the axis of China by acting in accordance with India's regional policy and developing good relations with Bangladesh as well as India, where it tries to increase cooperation in every field. [47]
Looking at Pakistan, it is seen that the country has increased its relations with China in every field since the Cold War and today the relations between the parties have reached the level of unilateral dependence. Pakistan's relations with Bangladesh, which has developed a foreign policy in the axis of India, remained on the basis of discourse and values, especially when the Chinese-Pakistan Economic Corridor, which has become famous in recent years, has been caught on the Chinese axis with the CPEC project. In addition, during his prime ministry, Sheikh Hasina avoided establishing close relations with Pakistan, as in his father Mucibur Rahman period, and strongly opposed Pakistan's establishment of political activity in Bangladesh. [48] Therefore, in the current conjuncture, it is seen that Bangladesh, which prefers the India-USA axis against the Pakistan-China alliance, is determined to carry out this policy in case the Awami League wins in the upcoming elections.
5.3. India Being a Potential Market for Bangladesh Goods
India means a great opportunity, an ideal neighbor, with its long land border it shares, being one of the fastest growing economies in the world in recent years, and being the largest consumer market for Bangladesh to sell its goods. The fact that India is a big market for Bangladesh goods is one of the important determinants of its relations. The relations with Pakistan that hit the bottom especially when it gained its independence in 1971, led Bangladesh to develop economic relations with India, which is the biggest neighbor and a ready market. The fact that India, one of the fastest growing economies of recent years, is also a large consumer market with a population of more than 1.3 billion, has caused Bangladesh to be seen as a large market that can sell its goods and supply all its needs. [49]
On the other hand, looking at Pakistan, the ties that were broken after 1971 caused the relations to remain at a limited-political level for a long time. The geographic distance of Pakistan from Bangladesh and the presence of India, which is in constant conflict with Pakistan, is seen as an obstacle to the advancement of economic relations between the parties.
In addition, India has been one of Bangladesh's largest foreign aid providers since its independence. Since its independence, India has been trying to keep Bangladesh under control both with foreign aid and the loans it provides from infrastructure to military field in order to prevent Bangladesh from shifting to the axis of Pakistan, where it shares common religious values. This situation has been turned into a debt diplomacy policy by India in the long run. However, it is seen that in addition to the development of relations at an asymmetrical level with the loans given to Bangladesh by India, it is seen that Bangladesh tries to solve its economic problems at a limited level thanks to these loans. [50]
5.4. Bangladesh's Effort to Take on a Secular Portrait
It is seen that there are two main streams shaping the politics in Bangladesh since its independence. The first is the Grand Coalition led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today. The most important partner of the great coalition is the Awami League, the party of Mucibur Rahman, the executive party of the struggle for Bangladesh independence. Hasina Vecid, who is currently the prime minister, has been the president of the Awami League since 1981, in addition to being the daughter of Mucibur Rahman. Looking at the most important unifying elements of the coalition led by the Awami League; It is seen that elements such as Bengal nationalism, secularism and its economic model based on socialism come to the fore. [51] In general terms, it is stated that the main motivation of this coalition led by Sheikh Hasina Wecid is its rejection of radical-political Islam and the idea of secular Bangladesh based on Bengali nationalism but claiming that they protect the rights of other religious minorities. [52] Therefore, the idea that Pakistan was not well governed by Pakistan in the period between 1947-1971 and that Pakistan hosted so-called radical Islamic groups and ideas, Bangladesh trying to appear as a secular and moderate Islamic country especially after the September 11 attacks, play an important role in ignoring it compared to. [53]
The 18 Party Coalition, which is against the Grand Coalition and is the main opposition of Bangladesh, argues that Pakistan should be given priority in foreign policy due to its values. Nationalism adopted by the coalition led by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is not ethnically Bengali nationalism, but a nationalism that does not exclude Islam and is based on an Islamic partnership. [54] Therefore, the BNP, which was in power in the last 2001-2006 period, has the view that Bangladesh should be brought closer to Pakistan in its basic policy and that it should act within the framework of similar policies with Pakistan in its foreign policy. Indeed, like the BNP, which states that the Pakistan-Bangladesh alliance against India is necessary, the Jamaati Islamic Party supports Bangladesh and Pakistan to pursue a common policy under Sharia rules. Considering that Islamist of the Jamaat opposed the separation of Bangladesh from Pakistan and its activities were banned for a while after independence [55], it is thought that the 18-party coalition in which the party is in opposition to multi-dimensional cooperation with India. [56]
The Grand Coalition led by Sheikh Hasina, daughter of Mucibur Rahman, the founding leader of Bangladesh, known for its political anti-Islamism, opposes the political activity of Pakistan in the country, as well as opposing Islamist groups such as Jamaat Islami in Bangladesh. Therefore, the coalition, which does not fail to describe the religious Bengal nationalist groups in the country as Pakistani collaborators, demonstrates itself as the protector of the Hindus, who are in a minority position in the country, and pursues a policy of getting closer to India in every field. It is expected that Sheikh Hasina will prefer India in foreign policy if he continues to rule in the current conjuncture. Drawing a secular and moderate portrait of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina approached the India-USA Alliance in foreign policy and sees Pakistan as a country where radical Islamism, which hosts terrorist organizations, takes root.
Result
As a result, it is understood that India-Bangladesh relations date back long before the independence of the two countries and bilateral relations between the parties have continued in a fluctuating manner until today. It is a separate fact that India, which played a key role in the independence of Bangladesh in 1971, has been pursuing a multi-directional regional power policy in order not to shift the country to the Pakistan-China axis since then. With the 25-year friendship and cooperation agreement signed between the parties in 1972, India, which wants to guarantee its position in Bangladesh in the long term, is trying to make the East View policy operational by keeping Bangladesh under control. Although India is seen as the biggest supporter of independence by Bangladeshis, it is understood that the relations between India and Bangladesh have been shaped by the ruling parties in the countries and have been carried out with some problems that have surfaced in a fluctuating course. Hasina Vecid, who leads the Awami League, which is also seen as an independence party, sees herself as the representative of minorities in the country while pursuing a pro-Indian foreign policy. However, he argues that the coalition, including the BNP and its Cemaati Islamic party, will not be friends with India and that a foreign policy should be pursued on the axis of Pakistan.
It is seen that the factor determining the course of Bangladesh-India relations since 1971 is the ideology of the party in power in Bangladesh. It is observed that Bangladesh, who stated that he was uncomfortable with India's ambitious armament, especially the nuclear tests carried out by India during the BNP's power, was in disagreement with India on transboundary waters, borderline and large deficits in trade.
Although there is an asymmetrical relationship between them, it is stated that there is a geopolitical interdependence in bilateral relations. It is seen that Bangladesh is geopolitically dependent on India, which has a navy in the Bay of Bengal, where it is located, as well as the fact that it is surrounded by Indian lands from three sides. On the other hand, Bangladesh lands that divide India's Northeastern states and mainland are also important dependencies for India's economic activities in the region. The fact that Bangladesh, which gave India the right of transit through a corridor as a result of the financial support it obtained, makes this privilege a matter of negotiation from time to time and keeps the controversial issues between the two countries on the agenda, reinforces the belief that bilateral relations will continue to fluctuate within the scope of the master-friend metaphor. .
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