Committee on External Affairs presented ‘Future of India-Bangladesh Relationship’ report in Lok Sabha

Posted 19 Dec 2025

2 min read

Article Summary

The report highlights India-Bangladesh challenges, including political instability, security threats, trade issues, water disputes, China's influence, and proposes diplomatic, border, economic, and environmental strategies for future cooperation.

Key Challenges Highlighted in the Report

Strategic Realignment: Collapse of the government in Bangladesh in August 2024 has created political uncertainty and a potential strategic shift in Dhaka away from India.
Security Threats: Key concerns for India include illegal migration, cross-border terrorism, exacerbated by the 864 km of unfenced border in challenging riverine and mountainous terrain.
Economic Barriers and Trade Imbalances: Bilateral trade (USD 13.46 billion in 2024-25) remains heavily skewed toward India.
- Other challenges include infrastructure constraints at land ports, high congestion, and the influx of third-country goods (such as Chinese fabrics) under preferential provisions.
Water Sharing and Environmental Crisis: The Ganga Water Treaty (1996) expires in December 2026, with no formal renewal discussions underway.
- Also, agreements on 53 shared rivers (including Teesta) remain unresolved, while the Sundarbans delta faces threats from climate-driven sea-level rise.
Other issues: China’s expanding presence (e.g. Mongla Port upgrade, submarine base at Pekua), threatens Siliguri Corridor; attacks on religious minorities in Bangladesh.

Strategic Recommendations for the Future

Sustained Diplomatic Engagement: utilizing Track II and Track 1.5 diplomacy, pressing for free, fair, and inclusive elections.
Modernizing Border Management: Priority to completing border fencing with advanced technologies, such as drones, motion sensors, and laser intrusion detection.
Economic Safeguards and Integration: Accelerate negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with strict rules-of-origin verification to prevent third-party misuse.
Proactive Water and Climate Diplomacy: Renewal talks for the Ganga Water Treaty as per current hydrological and climate data, joint adaptation measures for the Sundarbans, etc.
Other: Dedicated Strategic Communication and Perception Management Unit by the MEA; Leveraging Regional Forums (e.g. BIMSTEC) as an alternative to SAARC; emphasis on people-to-people connections (e.g. resume normal Visa operations).