Bangladesh
India is the first country to recognize Bangladesh as a separate and independent state and established diplomatic relations with the country immediately after its independence in December 1971. India's links with Bangladesh are civilizational, cultural, social and economic. India shares its longest land border with Bangladesh, with five Indian states sharing land boundary with Bangladesh. There is much that unites the two countries – a shared history and common heritage, linguistic and cultural ties, passion for music, literature and the arts. This commonality is reflected in our multi-dimensional and expanding relations. India and Bangladesh’s geographical locations complement each other and present an opportunity for both to further develop their connectivity links and economies, especially with India’s north-eastern region.
Cooperation to tackle the challenge of COVID-19 Pandemic
- Government of India has gifted 3.3 million Covishield (Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines) to Bangladesh to assist in its fight against the pandemic.
- Government of India has also supplied 15 million vaccine doses commercially and 9.78 million doses under Covax scheme.
- Two ‘Mobile Oxygen Plants’ were gifted to Bangladesh with the help of INS Savitri in September 2021.
- India operated ‘Oxygen Express’ trains to transport Liquid Medical Oxygen (LMO) in railway containers, as part of commercial purchases made by Bangladesh. 20 such trains operated during the second wave of COVID‑19 transporting more than 4000 MT of LMO to Bangladesh.
- As another friendly gesture, about 20 tons of necessary medical supplies including Oxygen Nasal Cannula, Oxygen Face Mask, Oxygen Flow Meter, Non-rebreather Mask, Pulse Oxymeter, High Flow Nasal Canula, Medical Oxygen Cylinder and Infrared Thermometer was gifted to Bangladesh in August 2021.
- India also handed over 109 Life Support Ambulances to Bangladesh in line with PM’s commitment during the second wave of COVID‑19.
- During COVID‑19, India also provided capacity building training to 350 medical professionals in Bangla language.
Capacity Building & Other Exchanges
- Human resource development is a key component of India’s development cooperation efforts in Bangladesh through its several ongoing training programs and scholarships. The Government of India has been providing training to Bangladesh Civil Service officials, police officials, judicial officials and judges, professionals, among others, at various premier training institutes in India.
- As part of capacity building trainings, more than 8500 police officials, judges, judicial officers, journalists, professionals etc. from Bangladesh have been trained by India. This includes nearly 3742 professionals having received training under Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) in last nine years since 2014-15.
- In March 2021 during the visit of Prime Minister Modi to Dhaka, India announced 1000 “Suborno Jayanti Scholarships” for Bangladeshi students.
Development Cooperation (Grants/ LoCs/ Assistance)
- With a development cooperation portfolio of nearly 10 billion USD comprising loans, grant assistance and concessional financing, Bangladesh receives development cooperation assistance from India at uniquely concessional terms.
- India has extended 3 Lines of Credits (LoCs) to Bangladesh amounting to around USD 7.362 billion for development of infrastructure in various sectors including roads, railways, shipping and ports.
- In addition to these three LoCs, the Government of India has also been providing grant assistance to Bangladesh for various infrastructure projects including, construction of Akhaura-Agartala rail link for an amount of US$ 0.116 bn.
- Dredging of inland waterways in Bangladesh and construction of India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline to supply High Speed Diesel from Siliguri to Parbotipur in Bangladesh and concessional financing of USD 1.6 billion for construction of Maitri Super Thermal Power Plant in Bangladesh.
- India has also extended a 500 million USD Defence LoC to Bangladesh, further strengthening defence cooperation between the two countries.
- High Impact Community Development Projects (HICDPs) constitute an active pillar of India’s development assistance. The Government of India has funded 76 HICDPs including construction of student hostels, academic buildings, skill development and training institutes, cultural centres, and orphanages etc in Bangladesh.
- Another 17 HICDPs are being implemented, with all the 93 projects amounting to over USD 45 mn. These community-oriented projects have been well received in Bangladesh.
