Transformation Emergence of Bangladesh and Evolution of India-Bangladesh Ties

Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty

India’s neighbourhood has always been accorded high priority in formulating foreign policy options, particularly in post-independent India. Since the birth of Bangladesh, the third largest neighbour in terms of population, India has engaged closely with Bangladesh.

This book is about India-Bangladesh bilateral ties during the last half a century. The book traces the history of Bengal, the Partition and the birth of Bangladesh, as a new nation in the sub-continent. The book covers domestic developments in Bangladesh and its impact on bilateral ties.

The book narrates Bangladesh’s domestic challenges like the political turmoil after the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the leader who inspired the struggle for liberation, political intervention by the military, conflict between secularism and theocracy, the Chakma revolt and insurgency, communal tensions, sustaining democracy and the amazing economic recovery that Bangladesh has achieved from being one of the poorest nations at the time it was born.

The narrative on bilateral ties has been brought up-to-date, including a discussion on vexed bilateral issues. PM Sheikh Hasina’s remarkable contribution bringing about a fundamental transformation in bilateral ties is discussed in the book. She has been prime minister for an unbroken fifteen years and having won the January 2024 election, will continue as PM for another 5-year term guiding Bangladesh’s future policies and ties with India.

Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty

The author joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1977. During his diplomatic career he has served in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UK, Pakistan, Israel, Bangladesh and Thailand. At New Delhi, he served in Protocol and the Americas Divisions, Deputy Coordinator, SAARC Summit 1995 and Chief of Protocol in the Ministry of External Affairs.

He served as High Commissioner to Bangladesh and Ambassador to Thailand, returning to MEA as Special Secretary (Public Diplomacy) and later as Secretary (Economic Relations), in which capacity he was a Member of the Board of Directors of the EXIM Bank and the BRICS Sherpa for the 2013 Summit held in South Africa. He retired from service in September 2013.

A former President of the Association of Indian Diplomats and a regular contributor to newspapers and publications on international issues and India’s foreign policy, the author has published over 170 articles, several book reviews and five book chapters.

Contents

Preface

Introduction

1. Partition: First Step Towards Bangladesh
2. East Pakistan: Rise of Bengali Nationalism
3. Emergence of Bangladesh
4. Early Years: Domestic Politics and Bilateral Ties
5. The Chakma Rebellion: Bangladesh’s Lingering Insurgency
6. Religion and Politics
7. Post-Mujib Bilateral Ties: 1975-2006
8. Bilateral Ties: Transformation 1.0
9. Transformation 2.0
10. Economy, Trade and Economic Ties
11. Vexed Issues: Bilateral Challenges
12. Conclusion
Selected Bibliography
Index