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The Print
2 days ago
- Business
- The Print
New Delhi-Dhaka must reimagine ties as ‘strategic necessity for collective growth'—Bangladesh envoy
Riaz in his speech touched upon the soft dimensions of India-Bangladesh ties—language, culture and education. With thousands of Bangladeshi students studying in India, and an organic exchange of ideas and people across the two countries' 4,096-kilometre shared land border, he said the bilateral relationship was not merely geopolitical but personal. The remarks come at a time when ties between New Delhi and Dhaka have been tense for months. New Delhi: Bangladesh and India must reimagine bilateral and regional cooperation, not as a legacy of the past, but as a strategic necessity for collective growth and resilience, said M. Riaz Hamidullah, Bangladesh's High Commissioner to India, during a wide-ranging speech at the neighbouring country's belated national day celebration in New Delhi Thursday evening. 'Our collaboration cannot be judged solely by the memoranda signed or the meetings held,' he noted. 'We aspire for a peaceful and prosperous neighbourhood that upholds universal values while also protecting national interests.' 'Bound by shared geography, shared ecology, and a shared linguistic and cultural heritage, our two peoples embrace each other with respect and dignity,' Riaz added. 'Not just because we share the largest land boundary; our people engage organically, not merely as a matter of choice.' He further asserted that 'Bangladesh's ties with India are historic, deep and multilayered. Bangladesh is open and engaged with India to address diverse issues of the present and future'. Riaz noted that bilateral trade between India and Bangladesh grew in double digits in the fiscal gone by and said Dhaka sees the India-Bangladesh partnership as an engine for broader regional development, referencing the sub-regional energy agreement through which Nepal has begun transmitting 40 megawatts of electricity to Bangladesh via the Indian grid. 'These mutually gainful tasks are already in place,' Riaz said. 'It is this understanding that asks our two nations to reimagine bilateral and regional cooperation, not as a legacy of the past, but as a strategic necessity for our collective growth and resilience.' Highlighting Bangladesh's priorities under its chairmanship of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), Riaz said Dhaka looks forward to 'reinvigorating the regional cooperation agenda'. The envoy underlined the country's commitment to democratic values, calling democracy one of the founding ideals that inspired Bangladesh's liberation. He spoke of the current political transition under way in Dhaka, where an interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus is expected to hold free and fair elections early next year. He further emphasised that the future of Bangladesh lies in transformation: empowering the young to define their destiny and build a democracy that is not only electorally functional but socially inclusive. Riaz ended on a personal note, recounting his meeting last month with Raghu Rai—the Indian photojournalist who documented the Bangladesh Liberation War and was awarded the Padma Shri in 1972 for his powerful imagery. 'His work captured our agony, our struggle, and reminded me that the humanism of 1971 still binds us,' he said. 'Today, some of the war veterans from 1971 are with us in this hall. Their sacrifices must never be forgotten.' 'The friendship between Bangladesh and India must continue to fly forward, rooted in history, yet reaching ambitiously into the future,' Riaz concluded. (Edited by Nida Fatima Siddiqui) Also Read: After Operation Sindoor, why India must keep an eye on Bangladesh too
Business Recorder
07-06-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
India's hegemonic designs
One reality which emerged out of the recent India-Pakistan conflict is that India is one among equal in the fraternity of South Asian nations. India has long positioned itself as the dominant regional power in South Asia, leveraging its demographic, economic, and military superiority. However, the recent conflict between India and Pakistan has exposed critical vulnerabilities in this hegemonic posture. This article examines the implications of the conflict on India's regional dominance, highlighting the growing parity between India and Pakistan in diplomatic and military affairs and the increasing strategic autonomy of smaller South Asian nations. It argues that the traditional notion of Indian hegemony is being challenged by an emerging more multipolar and assertive regional order India's involvement in regional organizations like the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) also illustrates its ambitions to play a leadership role in South Asia. Yet, this perceived hegemony has often been met with resistance from neighboring countries. Indian leadership's role in South Asia has been underpinned by a combination of soft power, economic leverage and strategic dominance. New Delhi has frequently acted as a security guarantor, development partner, and political influencer in countries like Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives. However, these relationships have often been marked by tensions, with smaller states resisting perceived Indian overreach. Pakistan, influenced by historic parity between the two carved out countries, remained out of the orbit of India's hegemony. Countries like Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka have increasingly asserted their sovereignty and economic independence. Bangladesh has pursued extensive economic partnerships with China and Japan and lately with Pakistan, while Nepal has defied Indian pressure on constitutional and territorial matters. Sri Lanka, Bhutan and the Maldives have oscillated between pro-India and pro-China alignments, reflecting a desire for strategic balance rather than dependence. Nevertheless, this hegemonic stance has increasingly come under scrutiny, particularly in the wake of the recent India-Pakistan conflict, which has revealed significant constraints on India's ability to unilaterally influence regional and global outcomes. India's relative military and economic superiority did not translate into strategic dominance in this conflict. The parity in tactical outcomes has dented the myth of India's invincibility in conventional military terms. Pakistan's nuclear deterrence, improved air defence, and effective diplomacy neutralized India's attempts to impose strategic costs, creating a deterrent equilibrium. The conflict illustrated that conventional superiority does not guarantee dominance in modern asymmetric and nuclear-influenced warfare. The rapid military responses on both sides underscored the limits of escalation without mutual destruction. The conflict has affirmed Pakistan's continued relevance in global diplomacy. Despite India's growing alignment with the West, especially the US, , France and Russia, these powers refrained from taking a partisan stance. Instead, international diplomacy focused on de-escalation and parity-based dialogue. This reinforces the notion that, in matters of regional security and peace, India is not the sole interlocutor, and Pakistan remains a necessary counterpart. Diplomatically, both countries engaged with major global powers to narrate their versions of the conflict. Crucially, the international community treated both states as equally responsible actors, calling for restraint and dialogue. The ceasefire agreement, reportedly influenced by external mediation from actors like the US and the United Arab Emirates, further undermined India's insistence on bilateralism and highlighted its vulnerability to international pressure. Moreover, internationally, both India and Pakistan engaged in parallel diplomatic offensives, apprising the world capitals of their narratives. Significantly, none of these powers outrightly condemned either side. Instead, global calls for restraint and dialogue placed both nations on an equal diplomatic footing. India's inability to dictate the terms of the conflict's resolution represents a broader erosion of its regional and global influence. This shift is not only due to Pakistan's strategic resilience but also because of the changing dynamics among other South Asian nations, many of whom are actively diversifying their diplomatic and economic engagements. The cumulative effect of these developments is a region that is moving away from a unipolar Indian-led order toward a more multi-polar framework. South Asian states are no longer content with passive roles in a hierarchy led by India; instead, they are engaging in multilateral diplomacy, leveraging international partnerships, and resisting hegemonic pressures. The recent India-Pakistan conflict serves as a critical inflection point in South Asia's geopolitical trajectory. It challenges the long-standing assumption of Indian hegemony and underscores the emergence of a more balanced regional order. India's strategic and diplomatic parity with Pakistan in the conflict, coupled with the assertiveness of smaller neighboring states, signals the decline of unilateral Indian dominance. Moving forward, India's future role in South Asia will depend not on its ability to dominate, but on its willingness to engage as a partner among equals. In a region characterized by rising nationalism, economic competition, and strategic realignments, hegemonic posturing may prove not only unsustainable but counter-productive. The way forward lies in fostering regional integration, resolving bilateral issues through dialogue, and embracing a pluralistic vision of South Asian solidarity. India can play a significant role in making this happen. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Hindustan Times
28-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Benefits of economic integration between India and Sri Lanka
This brief examines the importance of economic integration between India and Sri Lanka in fostering both nations' growth as well as regional stability. Their deep cultural, historical, and geographic ties support an evolving economic relationship driven by trade, investment, and connectivity. As Sri Lanka's largest trading partner and investor, India plays a pivotal role in its economic recovery, particularly following Sri Lanka's recent economic crisis. The brief highlights the mutual benefits of integration: Sri Lanka can access India's large and expanding market, attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), and leverage India's cost-effective energy solutions. India, for its part, can enhance its regional security, counter rival influences, and strengthen its strategic presence in the Indian Ocean region. Key opportunities include expanding trade agreements, investing in infrastructure and renewable energy ventures, and enhancing maritime connectivity. India and Sri Lanka, neighbouring countries in South Asia, share a unique economic relationship rooted in culture, geography, and history, and which has evolved over the decades. Their economic integration is crucial for both mutual growth and fostering regional cooperation within frameworks like the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC). This paper can be accessed here. This paper is authored by Talal Rafi, ORF, New Delhi.
The Hindu
24-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
How will land ports closure impact the region?
The story so far: On May 17, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade shut down all land ports with Bangladesh for export of apparel (readymade garments) from Bangladesh. The order also shut down the northeastern land ports with Bangladesh to restrict the export of specific items from Bangladesh. The move is being interpreted as a fallout of the downturn in relations between New Delhi and Dhaka. The two sides are yet to develop a fully functional relationship after the fall of the Hasina government last August. What is the May order? Stopping import of readymade garments from Bangladesh through all land ports, the order said, 'Import from Bangladesh shall not be allowed from any land port; however, it is allowed through Nhava Sheva and Kolkata seaports.' That apart, the order also banned export of fruit, fruit flavoured drinks, processed food items (baked goods, snacks, chips and confectionery), cotton and cotton yarn waste, plastic and PVC finished goods except pigments, dyes, plasticisers, and granules, and wooden furniture from Bangladesh through land ports of Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Tripura. The same goods were also banned from entering India through the land customs stations of Changrabandha and Fulbari. The order has clarified that import of fish, LPG, edible oil and crushed stone from Bangladesh will remain unaffected. What led India to issue this order? India said the order was aimed at ensuring reciprocity in trade with Bangladesh. On April 13, Bangladesh's National Board of Revenue imposed a ban on the import of cotton yarn from India through land ports. That apart, Bangladesh also stopped export of Indian rice through the Hili land port in West Bengal. Indian officials further said that Bangladesh had been carrying out aggressive checks of Indian trucks over the past several months. All these factors were taken into account in stopping the entry of readymade garments through Indian land ports. In all, there are 24 operational land ports between India and Bangladesh, and several other crossings are being developed. How is India justifying the decision? The order came into immediate effect on May 17, officials said. However, the order and the list of items on it are expected to be reviewed from time to time. The sea ports too are not expected to remain open for all items from Bangladesh as there will be mandatory checks and reviews of all items from Bangladesh exported through Indian sea ports. The Indian side further claimed that Bangladesh has been cherry-picking issues and that several comments by top leaders indicated that they were treating the northeast as a 'captive market' for Bangladesh's products, while Indian goods are not being given transit. Citing Prime Minister Modi's speech on the northeast, Indian officials said the northeast is integral to the BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation). The 'equal market space now available in the resource-rich northeast is expected to give a fillip to manufacturing and entrepreneurship in the region under the Atmanirbhar Bharat schemes and policies,' they said. How has Bangladesh responded? Bangladesh has not issued any official response so far though off the record Bangladeshi officials have expressed disappointment over the way this step was initiated by the Indian side. They said Bangladesh was not intimated about Indian plans and that they got to know of the decision through media reports which caught traders and transporters unawares. To India's accusation of Bangladesh unilaterally stopping India's cotton yarn and rice exports, Bangladesh officials said that these moves were enforced to control corruption on their side. Commerce Adviser S.K. Bashir Uddin of the interim government of Bangladesh has said a preliminary review is on about the impact that the Indian order will have on the economic prospects of Bangladesh. He said that in terms of furniture and agro products, the impact on Bangladesh will not be widespread, but the impact on readymade garments is likely to be significant. Will India's order affect Bangladesh's trade with Nepal and Bhutan? India claims that the order will not affect Bangladesh's trade with Nepal and Bhutan. However, it is understood that overland trade blockade will naturally impact flow of orders from Bangladesh to Nepal because of frequent disruption. The order has also created a ripple effect making investment planners careful before venturing into Bangladesh. Is the decision to shut land ports part of a larger issue between India and Bangladesh? Indian officials say the order is a 'message to Bangladesh' in response to remarks regarding India's northeast made by interim government chief Mohammed Yunus in China during the March 26-29 visit, which were unacceptable. In a meeting with Chinese business houses, Prof. Yunus had described the northeast as a 'landlocked' region that is suffering from developmental bottlenecks, urging China to access the region through Bangladesh. He had pitched Bangladesh as the 'guardian of the ocean' suggesting that Bangladesh's coastline is available to China to develop industrial and commercial links with India's northeast. Indian officials have said that the closure of land ports (Integrated Check Posts and Land Customs Stations) is also a message to the interim government of Bangladesh which has warmed towards Pakistan, accused of exporting cross-border terrorism to J&K. Indian officials said the order to restrict readymade garments was taken as it will affect nearly $700 million worth of textile exports from Bangladesh to India. Though it is a small part of the total $50 billion worth of exports from Bangladesh, it is expected to send a message to the global community about Bangladesh's moves.
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First Post
20-05-2025
- Business
- First Post
Macron rejects Bangladesh's request for bilateral with Yunus next month, Dhaka cancels trip
Yunus was all set to fly down to France to attend the Third United Nations Ocean Conference to be held next month after Dhaka requested for a bilateral meeting between Macron and Yunus read more Muhammad Yunus, chief adviser of the Government of Bangladesh, attends the 55th annual World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting in Davos, Switzerland, January 23, 2025. File Image/Reuters French President Emmanuel Macron has rejected plans for a bilateral meeting with Bangladesh's Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus on the sidelines of an international summit slated for next month. According to a report by the Economic Times, Yunus was all set to fly down to France to attend the Third United Nations Ocean Conference to be held next month after Dhaka requested for a bilateral meeting between Macron and Yunus. France, however, refused the proposal, following which Yunus had to cancel his trip to the country, in a development that is being seen as a setback to the interim government's global outreach. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The conference will be in Nice from June 9, and the French president has planned to host the participants for dinner the day before. Why did France cancel the meeting? Sources in Dhaka told the news outlet that after receiving an invitation from France, Bangladesh actively sought to organise a bilateral meeting between President Macron and Yunus. However, French officials conveyed that numerous countries attending the conference had already requested bilateral meetings, leaving no room to accommodate an additional one. France has reportedly said that it does not want to hold bilateral meetings during the summit and is keen on Yunus attending the ocean meet. France was interested in understanding the specific objectives of the proposed bilateral meeting and was not in favour of holding it merely for formality. Although Bangladesh had previously shown interest in purchasing civilian aircraft from France, there has been no significant progress on that front. Yunus' global outreach Yunus has been trying to snag meetings with prominent leaders from across the world to consolidate Bangladesh's position as the situation in the country took a turn for the worse following the dismissal of Sheikh Hasina's government. Last month, Yunus met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) Summit in Bangkok. This was the first time PM Modi met Yunus.
