INDIA-BANGLADESH

• Recently, Bangladesh and India started regular operation of freight trains through the restored Haldibari-Chilahati rail route after over 50 years, which will strengthen railway connectivity and bilateral trade between the two countries.
• The Haldibari-Chilahati rail link is one such route that was operational till 1965.
• Another rail link, between Agartala-Akhaura, is scheduled to open by the end of 2021.

Important points:

• After the Partition in 1947, seven rail links were operational between India and Bangladesh (then East Pakistan) until 1965.
• Presently, there are Five rail links between Bangladesh and India that are operational.
• They are Petrapole (India)-Benapole (Bangladesh), Gede (India)-Darshana (Bangladesh), Singhabad (India)-Rohanpur (Bangladesh), Radhikapur (India)-Birol (Bangladesh), Haldibari (India)-Chilahati (Bangladesh).

Significance:

• The Haldibari-Chilahati route is expected to enhance the connectivity to Assam and West Bengal from Bangladesh.
• It will enhance rail network access to the main ports and dry ports to support the growth in regional trade to encourage economic and social development of the region.
• Common people and businessmen of both countries will be able to reap the benefit of both goods and passenger traffic, once passenger trains are planned in this route.
• Economic activities (including tourist activities) of these South Asian countries will also be benefitted from this new rail link.
• The 75-kilometre long track will also help better integrate the rest of the country with the Siliguri corridor, also known as the ‘Chicken’s Neck.’
• The corridor connects India with the North-eastern states, which has witnessed growing aggressiveness from another neighbouring country of China in recent times.

Indo-Bangladesh Ties

• Fifty years ago, the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971 had added the colours of victory for India as it led the charge towards the formation of the new nation of Bangladesh.
• SAMVEDNA (Multinational Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) Exercise with Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka and UAE)
• Border Management: India and Bangladesh share 4096.7 km. of border, which is the longest land boundary that India shares with any of its neighbours.
• Bangladesh is India’s largest trading partner in the sub-continent with the total bilateral trade between the two nations standing at $9.5 billion (2019-20), down compared to the previous fiscal (2018-19), having crossed $10 billion.
• India’s exports to Bangladesh account for more than 85% of the total bilateral trade.
• In December 2020, to further boost the bilateral trade cooperation, an India-Bangladesh CEO’s Forum was launched.
• Bangladesh has appreciated the Duty-Free and Quota Free access given to Bangladeshi exports to India under South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) since 2011.
• In March 2021, Maitri Setu–a 1.9 km bridge built over Feni river joining Sabroom in India and Ramgarh in Bangladesh was inaugurated.
• Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade (PIWTT).
• Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal (BBIN) Motor Vehicles Agreement is in pipeline.

SOURCE: THE HINDU,THE ECONOMIC TIMES,MINT