what is the major issue between india and bangladesh

what is the major issue between india and bangladesh

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Nature

The major issues between India and Bangladesh include:

  • Water Sharing Disputes: The most prominent is the long-standing conflict over sharing the waters of the Teesta River, with Bangladesh seeking a greater share than it currently receives. Over 54 rivers cross between the two countries, but the Joint Rivers Commission has not met since 2010, stalling progress on water-sharing agreements
  • Border and Migration Issues: India and Bangladesh share a 4,096.7 km border, the longest India has with any neighbor. India has been fencing this border since 1986 to curb illegal Bangladeshi migration, which remains a sensitive and contentious issue. Bangladesh objects to the fencing, citing violations of border agreements and concerns over sovereignty and surveillance. Clashes between border security forces and civilians have occurred, escalating tensions
  • Illegal Migration: The porous border allows illegal migration from Bangladesh to India, especially into northeastern states like Assam and West Bengal. This migration fuels political and social tensions in India, while Bangladesh denies the existence of illegal migrants, describing them as trafficked individuals
  • Terrorism: India accuses Bangladesh-based terror outfits such as Ansarullah Bangla Team and Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami of carrying out attacks targeting India and supporting insurgent groups in India's northeast
  • Trade and Economic Issues: Bangladesh complains about non-tariff barriers and slow progress in gaining duty-free access for its goods in India, contributing to economic friction
  • Diplomatic and Minority Rights Tensions: Recent diplomatic strains have arisen over the treatment of Hindu minorities in Bangladesh, arrests of Hindu religious figures, and attacks on Bangladeshi diplomatic missions in India. These issues have inflamed public opinion and protests on both sides
  • Maritime Boundary Dispute: Although largely resolved by a UN tribunal awarding Bangladesh a significant portion of disputed Bay of Bengal waters, maritime boundary issues had been a source of contention for decades
  • Enclave and Land Boundary Issues: The 1974 Land Boundary Agreement and its 2011 Protocol resolved many enclave and border demarcation issues, but some minor border areas remain undemarcated, such as the Comilla-Tripura border

In summary, the major issues revolve around water sharing (especially the Teesta River), border fencing and illegal migration, terrorism concerns, trade barriers, minority rights, and some residual border demarcation challenges. These issues have periodically strained the historically close relationship between India and Bangladesh

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