Youthforce
Mera Bharat Mahan
India Bangladesh are very much similar to each other culturally, economically and even historically. After the partition of India in 1947 Bangladesh became a part of Pakistan. However, in 1971 it gained independence following the Liberation War. Since then Bangladesh have had maintained cordial relations with India. Though there had been concern over several disputes, there have also been issues of accord In the Liberation War Indian soldiers fought for Bangladesh and about 20,000 soldiers became martyrs. It was after this sacrifice that independent Bangladesh was born. India and Bhutan were in fact among the first to recognize Bangladesh as an independent nation. India provided shelter for around 10 million refugees before the war started.
The then Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on his first visit to India planned to develop Indo –Bangladesh relations on lines of socialism, non-alignment, democracy and opposition to racism and colonialism. On a similar note when Indira Gandhi visited Bangladesh that India would never interfere in the internal matters of the newly born nation. The Awami League party usually maintains good terms with India. The ‘Treaty of Friendship and Peace’ was signed in 1972 between both the nations.
There has been a huge dispute over the Farakka Barrage constructed in India. It was build to increase the supply of water in the river Hoogly. Bangladesh claimed that during summer months it does not receive an adequate amount of the Ganga water and in monsoon when India releases excess water it gets flooded. There has always been dispute over the sharing of the Ganga water. The terrorist groups active in both nations were also a reason of conflict. It is only recently that the two nations have agreed to combat terrorism together. The controversial issue of Teen Bigha Corridor which was transferred to Bangladesh aroused legal disputes.
Nevertheless, the Indo –Bangladesh relations have improved over the years and will the nations will share a more cooperative relation which is indicated by Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s visit to India in January 2010.
The then Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on his first visit to India planned to develop Indo –Bangladesh relations on lines of socialism, non-alignment, democracy and opposition to racism and colonialism. On a similar note when Indira Gandhi visited Bangladesh that India would never interfere in the internal matters of the newly born nation. The Awami League party usually maintains good terms with India. The ‘Treaty of Friendship and Peace’ was signed in 1972 between both the nations.
There has been a huge dispute over the Farakka Barrage constructed in India. It was build to increase the supply of water in the river Hoogly. Bangladesh claimed that during summer months it does not receive an adequate amount of the Ganga water and in monsoon when India releases excess water it gets flooded. There has always been dispute over the sharing of the Ganga water. The terrorist groups active in both nations were also a reason of conflict. It is only recently that the two nations have agreed to combat terrorism together. The controversial issue of Teen Bigha Corridor which was transferred to Bangladesh aroused legal disputes.
Nevertheless, the Indo –Bangladesh relations have improved over the years and will the nations will share a more cooperative relation which is indicated by Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s visit to India in January 2010.