Why in the News
India has invited Bangladesh’s Prime Minister to the BRICS summit as the current BIMSTEC chair, even as tension persists over the Sheikh Hasina extradition. A parallel opinion piece urges a Delhi-Dhaka reset.
What is BIMSTEC?
- Definition: The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) links South and Southeast Asian states around the Bay of Bengal.
- Members: India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Nepal, and Bhutan.
Why is a reset needed?
- Political friction: The extradition dispute over the former Bangladesh premier strains ties.
- Connectivity stakes: The Maitree Super Thermal Power Plant and the India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline anchor an energy and trade partnership worth protecting.
- Neighbourhood First: Bangladesh is central to India’s Neighbourhood First and Act East bridge, so drift carries strategic cost.
Conclusion
India is using multilateral platforms to keep a strained bilateral relationship functional. The next milestone is whether the extradition dispute is contained.
Matching Previous Year Question
“[2022, GS2, 10 marks] Do you think that BIMSTEC is a parallel organisation like the SAARC? What are the similarities and dissimilarities between the two? How are Indian foreign policy objectives realized by forming this new organisation?”