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Abstract
The relation between the two close neighbors in the modern world is bound to be a relation of complex interdependence in normal situation for varied reasons. In South Asia, Bangladesh and India are not only geographically close neighbors, they also share common history, culture, and economic background. India also helped Bangladesh in its war of liberation from Pakistan in 1971, which prompted the liberation of Bangladesh from Pakistani occupation and hastened the emergence of Bangladesh as an independent state. Nethertheless, the relationship between these two neighbors is not symmetrically positive. While the reasons for asymmetry in their relations are manifold, a few of them may be worth mentioning here: history, the larger size of India compared to Bangladesh, the nature of political regimes and their leaders in the two countries, the government policies, geography/border, and the economic conditions in both the countries. This paper, while examining the recent issues that have created problems and the possible areas of cooperation and development in the relations between the two neighbors, suggests that a symmetrical relation of complex interdependence between India and Bangladesh will be beneficial for both the countries in many ways.
Acknowledgments
The final draft of the manuscript was prepared during my tenure as a Fulbright Visiting Scholar in the Department of Political Science, Duke University, Durham, NC, (October 2012–June 2013). I, therefore, thank CIES for offering me the Fulbright Fellowship and Professor Karen Rammer, Chair of the Political Science Department at Duke for hosting me, and I also thank the Duke Library.
Notes
1. See for the concept of the complex interdependence, Robert O. Keohane and Joseph S. Nye, Power and Interdependence (Boston: Scott, Foresman and Company, 1989), 23–9.
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3. . See Joseph S. Nye, Peace in Parts: Integration and Conflicts in International Organization, (Boston: Little Brown, 1971).
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6. E.R. Wittkopf developed these categories and later Shoon Kathleen Murray and Jonathan A. Cowden discusses them in their article “The Role of “Enemy Images” and Ideology in Elite Belief Systems,” International Studies Quarterly 43, no. 3 (1999): 455–81. E. R. Wittkopf, “The Structure of Foreign Policy Attitudes: An Alternative View,” Social Science Quarterly 62 (1981): 108–123 and Faces of Internationalism: Public Opinion and American Foreign Policy (Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 1990).
7. The World Bank, World Development Report, 2012 (Washington, DC: The World Bank, 2012).
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10. Vinayaraj, V.K., 2009, 107.
11. Vinayaraj, V.K., 2009, 105.
12. Probir Kumar Sarker, “Reflections The Thorn in the Friendship,” Star Magazine (Weekly publication of Daily Star), 11, no. 13 (2012).
13. See on this issue Abul Kalam, Subregionalism in Asia: ASEAN and SAARC Experiences (Dhaka: The University Press Ltd., 2001), 157–67.
14. See for a discussion on the Sub-regional cooperation Forrest E. Coockson and A. K. M. Shamsul Alam (eds.), Towards Greater Sub-regional Economic Cooperation: Limitation, Obstacles, and Benefits (Dhaka: University Press Ltd., 2002), and Abul Kalam, 2001.
15. Daily Star, January 6, 1999, 1.
16. Quoted in Shamim Ahmad, “Advani remarks sour Dhaka-Delhi relations,” Dhaka Courier, November 15, 2002, 12.
17. Shamim Ahmad, 12.
18. See Shamim Ahmad, pp. 12–4.
19. Banajit Hussain, “Riots & the bogey of Bangladeshis,” The Hindu, August 8, 2012; updated August 8, 2012 (online version).
20. Prothom Alo, October 16, 2012.
21. A recent study shows that Bangladesh is a big loser in the cross border smuggling with India. See “Smuggling”, Daily Star P. 1, 3/30/2000, 1.
22. “India has to be liberal with Bangladesh: Hasina tells Indo-Bangla business meet in Agartala,” Daily Star, Thursday, January 12, 2012.
23. Of the total imports of Bangladesh in the financial year 1995–96 (est.), 21% came from India, 10% from China, 8% from Western Europe, 7% came from Hong Kong, and 6% came from Singapore.
24. Rehman Sobhan, “A Review of Economic Relations,” in Bangladesh-India Relations: Perspectives from Civil Society Dialogues, ed. Rehman Sobhan (Dhaka: The University Press Ltd., 2002), 1.
25. “Competition with China is making it nicer, but India could do still more to sweeten relations with its neighbours” The Economist, February 18, 2012.
26. Prothom Alo (A Bengali National Daily published from Dhaka conducted a public opinion survey the result of which was published on January 6, 2012. In this survey more than fifty percent of people gave opinion against giving transit to India and on the issue of India-Bangladesh also the people were equally divided on the friendly attitude/behavior of India towards Bangladesh.), Prothom Alo, January 6, 2012.
27. See Barrister Harun Ur Rashid, Bottom Line, “Khaleda Zia's New Delhi visit India reaching out to other parties,” Daily Star, Wednesday, October 31, 2012, (post editorial).
28. “India and its near-abroad: Your friendly big brother Wary of China, India tries to charm its neighbours,” The Economist, February 18, 2012.
29. “India Seeks Accord on Regional Energy Cooperation,” Daily Star, December 21, 1998,12.
30. For a discussion on this issue, see Ben Crow et al., Sharing the Ganges: The Politics and Technology of River Development (Dhaka: University Press Ltd., 1995), 221–3.
31. Pallab Bhattacharya, “Good electricity import price set: Dhaka, Delhi sign deal; price fixed at around Tk 4.66/ unit; supply to start by June next year,” Daily Star, February 29, 2012.
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33. Robert O. Keohane and Joseph S. Nye, Power of Interdependence, 2nd ed. (Boston: Scott, Foresman and Co., 1989), 24–5.
34. See Atiur Rahman and Abdur Razzaque, “Informal Border Trade between Bangladesh and India: An Empirical Study in Selected Areas,” in Towards Greater Sub-regional Economic Cooperation, ed. Forrest E. Coockson and A.K.M. Shamsul Alam, (Dhaka: The University Press Ltd., 2002), 201–8.
35. The World Bank, World Development Report 1997 (New York: Oxford University Press, 1997), , Basic Indicators, 214.
36. “FBCCI chief tells visiting delegation: Bangladesh traders find Indian markets inaccessible,” Daily Star, December 10, 1998, 5.
37. Mahbubur Rahman, “Trade Liberalization: Opportunities and Concerns,” Daily Star, January 13, 1999, 5.
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39. See an editorial on this issue in the Daily Star, December 11, 1998, 6.
40. “India Undermines SAPTA Spirit: Unilateral increase in duty on Bangladeshi garment product,” Daily Star, March 24, 2000, 1.
41. Rahman Jahangir, “Dhaka-Delhi trade talks: Some Bangladeshi goods get passage to India,” Dhaka Courier, April 12, 2002, 8.
42. “Iftekhar-Pranab Meeting: Dhaka asks Delhi for duty free access, removal of non-tariff barriers,” Daily Star, April 1, 2007, 1–15.
43. Daily Star,January 12, 2012.
44. For a discussion on the growth of Indian economy, see Amrita Narlikar, “Peculiar chauvinism or strategic calculation? Explaining the negotiating strategy of a rising India,” International Affairs, 82, no. 1, (2006) 59–76.
45. Iftekharuzzaman, “India Doctrine: Relevance For Bangladesh,” in Issues and Challenges Facing Bangladesh Foreign Policy, ed. M. G. Kabir and Shaukat Hassan (Dhaka: Bangladesh Society of International Studies, 1989), 18–20.
46. Daily Star, May 23, 2003, 1 and 11.
47. Pallab Bhattacharya, “Dhaka, Delhi keen to sink differences, boost economic cooperation,” Daily Star, May 24, 2003, 12 and 11.
48. For a detail discussion on the issue, see Atirur Rahman and Abdur Razzak, 2002, en: 19.
49. For a discussion on these issues, see Ben Crow, et al., op. cit.; also see Ishtiaq Hossain, “Bangladesh-India Relations: Issues and Problems,” in Foreign Policy of Bangladesh: A Small State's Imperative, ed. Emajuddin (Dhaka: University Press Ltd., 1984), 37–44.
50. For a discussion on the treaty, see Istiaq Hossain, “Bangladesh India Relations: The Ganges Water - Sharing Treaty and Beyond,” Asian Affairs: An American Review, 25, no. 3, (1988), 141–5.
51. See Howard and Teresita Schaffer, op cit.
52. For the history of Indo-Bangladesh relations, see Denis Wright, Bangladesh: Origins and Indian Ocean Relations (1971–1975) (Dhaka: Academic Publishers, 1988), 119–58.
53. Ranabir Samaddar, Paradoxes of the Nationalist Time: Political Essays on Bangladesh (Dhaka: The University Press Ltd., 2002), 165–9.
54. Samaddar, 2002, 167.
55. Pinaki Roy, “Issue bilateral, action unilateral Delhi assures Dhaka of discussion, continues to construct around 700 dams, many in line with river-linking project”, Daily Star, March 1, 2012.
56. “Bangladesh India discuss rebels, land.” Reports United Press International (UPI) on May 5, 2000.
57. See Rahman Jahangir, “The distant neighbour” (2002), 9–12, and Shamim Ahmad, (2002), 12–14.
58. See Shamim Ahmad, (2002) 13.
59. See her interview with the reporter of an Indian Daily before her departure for Calcutta Daily Star, January 27, 1999, 3.
60. See, Daily Star, April 11, (2000), 3; www.thedailystar.net
61. Rezaul Karim, “3 Years of Government Connectivity, transit dominated diplomacy, Govt focused on improving ties with India,” Daily Star, January 5, 2012.
62. See Daily Star, December 15, 1998, 1.
63. See Roushan Zaman, “Dhaka, New Delhi and the no-man's land,” Dhaka Courier, February 7, 2003, 9–13.
64. “Fresh bid to push in 42 foiled in Panchgarh,” Daily Star, May 31, 2003, 1.
65. Pallab Bhattacharya, “Border firing to go on reasserts BSF chief day before home ministers’ meeting in Delhi,” Daily Star, February 24, 2012.
66. See Shyamali Ghosh, “Political Dynamics in Bangladesh: Relations between Bangladesh and India,” International Studies, 32, no. 3, 238.
67. “Dhaka to ask Delhi to ratify Mujib-Indira border treaty,” Daily Star, April 10, 2000, 1; www.thedailystar.net
68. See Ittefak, (Bengali Daily, published from Dhaka), April 23, 2001, 1, also see Major general Eajaj Ahmed Chowdhury, psc (Rtd), “Border Dispute with India” (paper presented at a seminar on India Bangladesh Border clashes organized by the Center for Strategic and Peace Studies, Dhaka, May 13, 2001).
69. For the concept of “spill over” see Ernst B. Haas, Beyond the Nation-State (Stanford: Stanford University Press, 1964).