ISAS Insights

India and Bangladesh are generally seen to be two friendliest South Asian neighbours. The credit is largely owed to the relationship of trust that has developed between the two national leaders, Prime Ministers Narendra Modi of India and Sheikh Hasina Wazed of Bangladesh. However, there are complexities woven into the relationship between the two countries that have deep historical roots in the way Kolkata and Dhaka have related to each other for over a century. All sides, including New Delhi, need to take note of and respond to these issues if the relationship is to be made sustainable. The structure of trust between the apex leaders will need to be expanded to include Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of India's border state of West Bengal, who holds the key to the resolution of the critical Indo-Bangla differences on cross-border water sharing. Importantly, the Indian government would need to play a disproportionately greater role to make efforts to bring the aspirations for a potentially very positive and mutually-rewarding partnership to fruition.