India-Bangladesh Relations - Land Boundary Agreement, Teesta Issue, and Connectivity

India-Bangladesh Relations for UPSC: Land Boundary Agreement (2015), Teesta Issue, and Connectivity

India and Bangladesh share one of India's most important neighbourhood relationships. It is both people-centric (shared culture, language links, families across borders) and strategic (India's North-East connectivity, Bay of Bengal security, trade routes, and regional stability). For UPSC, this relationship is best understood through three high-impact themes: (1) the Land Boundary Agreement (LBA) (2015) as a landmark border settlement, (2) the Teesta water-sharing issue as a key unresolved challenge in river diplomacy, and (3) connectivity as the engine of economic integration and India's "Neighbourhood First" and "Act East" policies.

1. Why India-Bangladesh Relations Matter for UPSC

• Neighbourhood First Policy: Bangladesh is central to India's neighbourhood diplomacy and stability in eastern South Asia.
• North-East Integration: Bangladesh's geography enables shorter, cheaper connectivity for India's North-Eastern states, supporting development and national integration.
• River Diplomacy: India and Bangladesh share many transboundary rivers; Teesta is the most prominent unresolved water-sharing issue.
• Trade and Regional Value Chains: Bangladesh is a major economic partner; deeper integration supports regional manufacturing and supply chains.
• Security Cooperation: Cooperation on counter-terrorism, border crimes, and maritime security in the Bay of Bengal littoral.

Mains Angle

• Write answers using the structure: achievements (LBA + connectivity) + challenges (Teesta + border issues) + way forward (river basin approach + subregional integration).

2. Historical Context: Evolution of Bilateral Relations

India played a significant role in Bangladesh's liberation in 1971. Soon after, India and Bangladesh signed the India–Bangladesh Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Peace (1972), building a foundation for cooperation. Over time, relations have seen ups and downs depending on domestic politics, border challenges, and unresolved river-water issues. From the 2000s onward, relations strengthened through cooperation on security, connectivity, trade, and major diplomatic breakthroughs such as the Land Boundary Agreement (2015).

3. Land Boundary Agreement (LBA) (2015): Background, Provisions, and Significance

3.1 Background: Why the Land Boundary Was Complex

At Partition (1947), the Radcliffe Line created a long, densely populated boundary. Two unique and difficult problems persisted for decades:

• Enclaves: Small pockets of one country's territory located inside the other country, creating "islands" of governance with no clear access to services.
• Adverse possession: Areas where the de facto control and administration did not match the de jure boundary claims, causing confusion in law enforcement, development, and citizenship.

To address these issues, the Indira–Mujib Land Boundary Agreement (1974) was signed, but it required constitutional ratification in India and remained pending for decades. A later protocol in 2011 added clarity, and finally, in 2015, the 100th Constitutional Amendment Act enabled India to ratify the agreement.

3.2 Main Provisions of LBA (2015)

• Exchange of enclaves: India received 51 enclaves from Bangladesh; Bangladesh received 111 enclaves from India.
• Citizenship and resettlement: Residents of enclaves were given choices related to citizenship and relocation, ending decades of statelessness-like conditions.
• Boundary demarcation: Created clarity for administration, policing, and development.

3.3 Why LBA (2015) Is a Landmark Achievement

The LBA is often described as a rare example of a successful territorial settlement in South Asia. Its significance goes beyond maps.

• Humanitarian impact: People living in enclaves for generations gained access to basic services—schools, hospitals, police protection, documentation, and welfare schemes.
• Governance and development: Clear jurisdiction enabled planned infrastructure, local administration, and delivery of public services.
• Border management and internal security: Reduced grey zones that could be exploited for smuggling, trafficking, and criminal activity.
• Trust-building: Demonstrated that sensitive territorial issues can be resolved peacefully and through dialogue, strengthening mutual confidence.
• Constitutional consensus: Ratification across party lines showed domestic political maturity on foreign policy.

Prelims Angle

• Know: LBA (2015), 100th Constitutional Amendment, enclaves, adverse possession.
• Remember the year and linkage with Indira–Mujib Agreement (1974).

Mains Angle

• Use LBA as an example of cooperative federalism and bipartisan consensus enabling foreign policy success.
• Connect LBA with human security (citizenship, services) and traditional security (border crimes).

4. Teesta Issue: Why It Matters and Why It Remains Unresolved

4.1 The Teesta River and Its Importance

The Teesta is a major river in the eastern Himalayan region, flowing through India (Sikkim and West Bengal) and into Bangladesh, where it supports irrigation, agriculture, fisheries, and livelihoods. The issue becomes most sensitive during the lean season when water availability reduces sharply and competing demands rise.

4.2 Why Teesta Is Difficult to Solve

• Hydrological reality: Seasonal variation and climate-linked uncertainty make year-round allocation challenging.
• Competing domestic demands: Irrigation and drinking water needs in India's Teesta basin compete with Bangladesh's downstream needs.
• Federal politics: The Teesta flows through West Bengal; state-level consent is necessary for any agreement, and this has been a sticking point.
• Historical context: A draft agreement was nearly signed in 2011 but did not proceed due to political constraints.

4.3 Why Teesta Matters for Bilateral Relations

• Symbol of partnership: The LBA created trust, but Teesta remains a "test case" of India's ability to deliver on key commitments.
• Neighbourhood stability: Water diplomacy affects public sentiment and political narratives.
• Regional competition: Unresolved issues can create space for external influence and strategic balancing by smaller neighbours.

4.4 What a Realistic Solution Approach Looks Like (UPSC-Ready)

A durable Teesta solution usually needs to move beyond a single-number formula and adopt a broader river-basin and cooperation package:

• Joint hydrological assessment: Shared data, transparent measurement, and updated flow modelling.
• Lean-season management: Coordinated release schedules and demand-side efficiency measures.
• Water-use efficiency: Promoting micro-irrigation, crop diversification, and reduced wastage in basin agriculture.
• Ecological and flood cooperation: Joint approaches to disaster resilience, wetland management, and climate adaptation.
• Sub-national engagement: Building support among state governments and local stakeholders in India.

Prelims Angle

• Know: Teesta River flows through Sikkim, West Bengal (India), and Bangladesh.
• Issue peaks during lean season.
• Key challenge: federal politics + water allocation.

Mains Angle

• Present balanced answers: India's domestic constraints + Bangladesh's legitimate downstream needs + climate uncertainty.
• Suggest "basin management + data transparency + efficiency + sub-national consensus" as the way forward.

5. Connectivity: The Most Transformative Pillar in Recent Years

Connectivity has become the most visible success story in India–Bangladesh ties. It has both economic and strategic significance: reducing logistics costs, enabling supply chains, boosting people-to-people exchanges, and integrating India's North-East with the rest of India and with South-East Asia via the Bay of Bengal.

5.1 Types of Connectivity (Road, Rail, Waterways, Ports, Energy, Digital)

5.2 Rail Connectivity: Symbolic and Practical Gains

Rail links are politically symbolic because they revive historic connectivity disrupted after 1947. They also provide practical gains by reducing time and cost for passenger movement and cargo logistics.

• Maitree Express (2008): Passenger rail service linking Kolkata and Dhaka, a major people-to-people milestone.
• Bandhan Express (2017): Kolkata–Khulna service strengthening cross-border ties.
• Mitali Express (2021): New Jalpaiguri–Dhaka service expanding rail network options.
• Akhaura–Agartala rail link: Critical for Tripura and North-East; significantly shortens travel time.

5.3 Road and Border Infrastructure

Road links and ICPs convert diplomacy into measurable outcomes—faster trade clearance, formalisation of commerce, and reduced border frictions.

• Integrated Check Posts: Streamline customs, immigration, and cargo handling.
• Border haats (local markets): Encourage livelihood opportunities and reduce informal trade incentives.
• Transit routes: Support India's North-East movement of goods with shorter routes.

5.4 Inland Waterways and Coastal Shipping: Low-Cost, High-Potential Connectivity

Inland waterways and coastal shipping are crucial for "green logistics" and lower freight costs. They also suit bulk goods transport and reduce pressure on congested land borders.

• Inland water transit cooperation: Enables cargo movement through river routes connecting India's waterways with Bangladesh's river network.
• Coastal shipping cooperation: Helps move goods efficiently along the Bay of Bengal coast.

5.5 Energy Connectivity and Grid Integration

Energy trade is a quietly transformative dimension of bilateral ties, creating real economic stakes in cooperation.

• Power exports from India to Bangladesh: Bangladesh benefits from reliable supply; India gains export revenue and regional integration.
• Fuel and logistics links: Pipelines and fuel supply chains reduce transport costs and improve reliability.

5.6 Why Connectivity Is Strategically Important for India

• North-East as a growth hub: Connectivity through Bangladesh can significantly reduce distance and cost for North-East trade and movement.
• Act East policy support: Strengthens India's eastern corridor and connectivity to the Bay of Bengal economic space.
• Countering isolation: Greater integration reduces the sense of geographic isolation in border regions.

Prelims Angle

• Remember train names with years: Maitree (2008), Bandhan (2017), Mitali (2021).
• Know terms: ICPs, border haats, inland waterways, coastal shipping, grid interconnection.

Mains Angle

• Connectivity can be framed as development diplomacy and a tool for regional public goods.
• Use examples: rail revival + waterways + energy grid to show multi-modal integration.

6. Trade and Economic Cooperation: Opportunities and Concerns

Trade is a strong pillar of the relationship, but it also brings typical challenges such as trade imbalance and non-tariff barriers. For UPSC, the best approach is to focus on value-chain integration.

6.1 Key Trends (UPSC-Friendly)

• Growing trade volume: Driven by improved connectivity and economic growth.
• Trade imbalance: Bangladesh often highlights asymmetry; solutions lie in investment, market access, and value chains.
• Development partnership: Lines of credit, infrastructure projects, and capacity building expand economic ties.
• Investment linkages: Indian investment in Bangladesh and cross-border business confidence improve stability.

Prelims Angle

• Use keywords: trade facilitation, non-tariff barriers, land ports, logistics costs, regional value chains.

Mains Angle

• Propose "from buyer-seller to co-producers" via manufacturing corridors and value-chain linkages.

7. Security and Border Management: Cooperation and Sensitivities

7.1 Areas of Cooperation

• Counter-terrorism: Sharing intelligence on extremist networks, curbing cross-border movement of militants.
• Border coordination: Regular meetings between border forces and local administration.
• Maritime security in the Bay of Bengal: Important for trade routes and regional stability.

7.2 Persistent Challenges

• Smuggling and trafficking: Cattle, narcotics, fake currency, and human trafficking networks.
• Riverine border complexity: Shifting river channels and char lands create enforcement challenges.
• Border incidents: Use of force allegations can create public anger and diplomatic friction.

Prelims Angle

• Remember: India–Bangladesh border is among India's longest and includes difficult riverine stretches.

Mains Angle

• Recommend a "smart border" approach: technology + joint patrolling + livelihood options + legal trade expansion to reduce informal incentives.

8. Other Cooperation Areas: Rivers Beyond Teesta, Environment, and Public Health

• Other shared rivers: Beyond Teesta and Ganges, there are numerous transboundary rivers requiring basin-level cooperation.
• Climate and environment: Both countries face climate risks (floods, cyclones, sea-level rise); scope for joint conservation and disaster resilience planning.
• Public health and human security: Cooperation can expand in disease surveillance and emergency response.

9. Key Challenges in India-Bangladesh Relations (UPSC Analysis)

10. Way Forward: Strengthening the Partnership (Answer-Ready)

• Resolve Teesta through a basin approach: Joint management, efficiency measures, data sharing, and sub-national outreach.
• Deepen connectivity: Expand multi-modal transport while addressing environmental and social concerns.
• Strengthen economic integration: Move towards value-chain partnerships, industrial linkages, and standards cooperation.
• Improve border governance: Promote legal trade, technology-based monitoring, and humane handling of border issues.
• Expand people-to-people diplomacy: Education, culture, tourism, and youth exchanges reduce misinformation and build trust.
• Subregional frameworks: Use platforms like BIMSTEC and BBIN-style connectivity to widen regional benefits.

Prelims Angle

• Revise the triad: LBA (2015), Teesta (unresolved), Connectivity (rail/road/water/energy).
• Make quick notes of major trains and years: 2008, 2017, 2021.

Mains Angle

• Conclude answers with: "A stable, connected, and cooperative Bangladesh is vital for India's North-East, Bay of Bengal strategy, and Neighbourhood First policy."

11. UPSC Practice Questions (Mains + Prelims)

Conclusion

India–Bangladesh relations are a model of what neighbourhood diplomacy can achieve when it focuses on people's welfare, practical connectivity, and mutual security. The Land Boundary Agreement (2015) stands out as a historic, trust-building settlement that improved governance and human security along the border. At the same time, the Teesta issue remains a major diplomatic and political challenge, requiring a balanced solution that respects both local needs and downstream concerns. The future of the relationship lies in deepening multi-modal connectivity, addressing unresolved water issues through a basin-based approach, and building shared prosperity through trade, energy cooperation, and regional integration.