Bangladesh: India’s Best Neighbor or a Ticking Clock?

If you look at India’s neighborhood, Bangladesh is often called the ‘best neighbor.’ We solved the land border demarcation (a 40-year-old issue), and trade is booming. But there’s a simmering issue: domestic politics in Bangladesh. The ruling party in Dhaka is very pro-India, but the opposition is increasingly anti-India. Plus, there’s the issue of China. Bangladesh is a massive recipient of Chinese loans. If the political winds shift in Dhaka, India could find itself facing a hostile government on a border that is 4,000 km long. Also, the issue of illegal migration and water sharing (Teesta river) remains unresolved. We tend to take Bangladesh for granted because the current situation is good. But in geopolitics, good neighbors can turn bad very quickly if we don’t nurture the relationship.