A parliamentary committee led by Shashi Tharoor submitted a series of recommendations related to the relationship with Bangladesh. In the recommendation, Tharoor led committee wrote that the situation in Bangladesh won’t descend into chaos and anarchy, but at the same time the situation is the ‘greatest strategic challenge’ for India ever since the 1971 Liberation war. In the recommendation, there is mention of the rise of Islamic radicals, increase in influence of China and Pakistan and about the recent collapse of Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League dominance in Bangladesh.

Is Bangladesh and India relationship under threat?

Comparing the situation in 1971 and today, Committee said that while the 1971 situation was challenging as it was related to the existence of a nation, birth of a new nation, today the situation is graver, if not handled well, there can be a generational discontinuity, a shift of political order, and a potential strategic realignment away from India. “If India fails to recalibrate at this moment, it risks losing strategic space in Dhaka not to war, but to irrelevance,”.

Expressing concerns related to the expanding China’s footprint in Bangladesh and increasing closeness with Pakistan, the Committee said that they way China is developing infrastructures like ports and defence-related cooperation. The Committee also mentioned projects like the expansion of Mongla Port , Lalmonirhat Airbase, and the submarine base at Pekua.

In the report, it is mentioned that China is getting involved with all sections in Bangladesh, including the Jamaat-i-Islami, even China visited the Islamic group.

What are the recommendations by the panel?

The panel suggests the Indian government to keep a close check on the increasing foreign involvement in Bangladesh and try to monitor so that no foreign military setup happens in Bangladesh. It even suggests that India should offer better advantages for development, port access and connectivity to Dhaka.

Talking about the Jamaat-e-Islami, the panel said that the banned outfit has now had its electoral registration reinstated in Dhaka, this means they will now participate in elections. And currently, the government in Dhaka has put a ban on Awami League and they are barred from contesting elections.  The panel pointed out, “The continuing ban on the Awami League will obviously call into question the inclusiveness of any future elections in Bangladesh,”.

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