The major issues between India and Bangladesh primarily revolve around border disputes, water sharing, and political tensions:
- Border Security and Disputes: The India-Bangladesh border, which is about 4,096 km long, has been a site of frequent tensions. There have been incidents involving Indian border security forces (BSF) and Bangladeshi civilians and border guards, including violence and disputes over fencing close to the zero line (the official boundary). India has erected fences in disputed areas without prior notification, leading to confrontations and protests from Bangladesh
- Water Sharing Disputes: The Teesta River dispute is a long-standing conflict over the equitable sharing of water resources from the transboundary Teesta River. Bangladesh demands a greater share than it currently receives. This issue is part of a broader challenge involving over 54 rivers crossing between the two countries, with the Joint Rivers Commission not meeting since 2010 to resolve these matters
- Political and Social Tensions: Anti-India sentiments have risen in Bangladesh due to perceived Indian interference in Bangladesh’s internal affairs, including concerns over the treatment of minorities and the impact of Indian policies like the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC), which have implications for migration and minority rights. Bangladesh has also accused India of anti-Muslim activities and interference in its politics
- Maritime Boundary Dispute: There was a four-decade-long dispute over maritime boundaries in the Bay of Bengal, which was resolved in 2014 by an international tribunal awarding Bangladesh a significant portion of the contested area. However, some land boundary issues remain unresolved, such as the Comilla-Tripura land border
Overall, while India and Bangladesh maintain strong political and economic ties, these issues-border management, water sharing, minority rights, and political interference-continue to cause friction and occasional diplomatic strain between the two nations
