1. Economic Support and Trade
a. Trade and Commerce
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Duty-Free Access: India grants duty-free and quota-free access to Bangladeshi goods under the South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA).
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Major Trade Partner: India is one of Bangladesh’s largest trading partners. In 2022–2023, bilateral trade was worth over $18 billion.
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Border Haats: Localized markets ("Border Haats") allow villagers from both sides to trade locally produced goods, promoting micro-economies in rural border areas.
b. Investment and Industrial Collaboration
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Indian Investments: Indian companies have invested in power, telecom, pharmaceuticals, and textiles in Bangladesh.
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Lines of Credit (LoC): India has extended $8 billion in Lines of Credit to Bangladesh, one of the largest recipients of Indian concessional finance globally.
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Projects include railways, roads, ports, power transmission, and more.
2. Financial Assistance
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India provides concessional loans and grants-in-aid for developmental projects.
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Projects funded include:
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Infrastructural developments (e.g., roads, bridges, power plants).
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Educational and cultural institutions.
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Healthcare development (e.g., building hospitals or supplying medical equipment).
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3. Infrastructure and Connectivity
a. Transport Links
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Restoration of old railway links (e.g., Kolkata–Dhaka–Agartala route).
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Construction of India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline for diesel supply.
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Enhancement of road connectivity for cross-border movement of goods and people.
b. Inland Waterways
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Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade (PIWTT) allows Bangladesh to use Indian rivers and ports for cargo movement — mutually beneficial.
4. Power and Energy Cooperation
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India supplies over 1,000 MW of electricity to Bangladesh.
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Joint projects in power generation (e.g., Rampal coal-fired power plant).
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Cooperation on renewable energy and transmission infrastructure.
5. Border Management and Security
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India supports Bangladesh in counter-terrorism, intelligence sharing, and border security.
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Both countries coordinate to curb illegal activities like human trafficking, smuggling, and terrorism.
6. Education and Capacity Building
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Thousands of Bangladeshi students study in India on scholarships under ICCR and other programs.
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India conducts training programs for Bangladeshi civil servants, police, and armed forces under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) program.
7. Health and Humanitarian Support
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During the COVID-19 pandemic, India provided vaccines, medicines, PPE kits, and medical aid under the Vaccine Maitri initiative.
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Medical visas for Bangladeshis to access treatment in Indian hospitals.
8. Cultural and People-to-People Ties
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Celebration of Mujib Borsho (birth centenary of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman) saw high-level engagements.
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Common cultural heritage through language, music, religion, and literature.
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Support for building libraries, language centers, and memorials in Bangladesh.
9. Water and Environmental Cooperation
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Joint management of common rivers, like the Ganga and Teesta (though Teesta agreement is still pending).
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Cooperation on climate resilience, environmental monitoring, and flood forecasting.
10. Diplomatic Support
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India strongly supported Bangladesh’s independence in 1971 and continues to advocate for its development in international forums.
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Backing Bangladesh’s candidature in UN bodies and global platforms.
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