India–Bangladesh Bilateral Treaties and Agreements

India and Bangladesh share deep civilisational, cultural, and geographic ties anchored by a 4,096.7 km shared land border—the longest land boundary India shares with any neighbor. Diplomatic relations began in December 1971 when India recognized Bangladesh as an independent sovereign state. Over the past five decades, bilateral cooperation has evolved through bilateral treaties, protocols, and memorandums of understanding. These agreements cover territorial demarcation, transboundary river water management, cross-border connectivity, energy corridors, defense cooperation, and economic trade integration.

Historical Foundations and Border Governance

Treaty of Peace, Friendship and Cooperation (1972)

Signed on March 19, 1972, by Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi and Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in Dhaka, this 25-year treaty laid the foundation for post-independence bilateral relations. It committed both nations to mutual respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity, non-interference, and peaceful co-existence. The treaty expired in 1997 and was replaced by targeted sectoral agreements.

Land Boundary Agreement (1974 & 2015)

The 1974 Land Boundary Agreement (LBA) signed by Indira Gandhi and Sheikh Mujibur Rahman sought to resolve border demarcations, enclaves, and adversely possessed lands. The agreement was operationalized on August 1, 2015, following the passage of the 100th Constitutional Amendment Act by the Parliament of India. India transferred 111 enclaves (17,160.63 acres) to Bangladesh, while Bangladesh transferred 51 enclaves (7,110.02 acres) to India. The agreement settled a 6.1 km un-demarcated border stretch and granted citizenship choices to residents in the enclave areas.

Coordinated Border Management Plan (2011)

Signed in July 2011 between the Border Security Force (BSF) and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), this plan aims to reduce border crimes, human trafficking, and cross-border smuggling. It establishes simultaneous coordinated patrols, joint intelligence sharing, and regular Director General-level Border Coordination Conferences to maintain border stability.

River Water Management and Hydrological Treaties

Joint Rivers Commission (1972)

Established in July 1972, the Joint Rivers Commission (JRC) coordinates the management of 54 shared transboundary rivers. The JRC acts as a technical body to monitor river flows, formulate flood forecasting models, and negotiate bilateral water-sharing formulas.

Ganges Water Sharing Treaty (1996)

Signed on December 12, 1996, by Prime Ministers H.D. Deve Gowda and Sheikh Hasina, this 30-year treaty governs the sharing of Ganges waters at the Farakka Barrage during the dry season (January 1 to May 31). It uses a formula based on 10-day flow periods:

• Flow below 70,000 cusecs: Waters are shared on a 50:50 basis.
• Flow between 70,000 and 75,000 cusecs: Bangladesh receives a fixed 35,000 cusecs, and India receives the remainder.
• Flow above 75,000 cusecs: India receives a fixed 75,000 cusecs, and Bangladesh receives the balance.
• Emergency Clause: If the flow falls below 50,000 cusecs in any 10-day period, both governments initiate immediate consultations to make emergency adjustments.

Kushiyara River Water Sharing Agreement (2022)

Signed in September 2022, this memorandum of understanding allows Bangladesh to withdraw 153 cusecs of water from the common Kushiyara river through the Rahimpur Canal. The agreement benefits agricultural irrigation in the Sylhet region of Bangladesh and Southern Assam in India.

Connectivity, Trade, and Transit Frameworks

Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade (PIWTT)

First signed in 1972 and updated periodically, PIWTT permits Indian and Bangladeshi vessels to utilize designated inland waterway routes for trade and transit. Key transit routes connect Kolkata and National Waterway-2 (Brahmaputra) via Bangladesh, linking the North Eastern states to mainland India.

Agreement on the Use of Chattogram and Mongla Ports (2018)

Signed in October 2018, this agreement allows India to move goods through Bangladesh’s Chattogram and Mongla sea ports. It reduces transit distance and time for cargo destined for Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram through specified land customs stations like Akhaura-Agartala and Dawki-Tamabil.

Cross-Border Passenger and Freight Rail Services

Bilateral transit protocols operate three passenger train services:

• Maitree Express: Operates between Kolkata and Dhaka (launched in 2008).
• Bandhan Express: Operates between Kolkata and Khulna (launched in 2017).
• Mitali Express: Operates between New Jalpaiguri and Dhaka (launched in 2021).
• Akhaura-Agartala Rail Link: Connects Tripura with the Bangladeshi rail network, cutting transit distance between Agartala and Kolkata via Dhaka from 1,600 km to 500 km.
• Khulna-Mongla Port Rail Line: A 64.7 km Broad Gauge railway line featuring the 5.13 km Rupsha Rail Bridge, built with an Indian Line of Credit to connect Mongla Port with the main rail grid.

Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA)

Both nations initiated official negotiations for a Bilateral Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. CEPA aims to cover trade in goods, services, and investment safeguards, helping Bangladesh maintain duty-free market access following its scheduled graduation from Least Developed Country (LDC) status.

Energy, Defense, and Security Cooperation

India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline (IBFP)

Inaugurated in March 2023, this 131.5 km cross-border pipeline transports high-speed diesel from the Numaligarh Refinery marketing terminal in Siliguri (West Bengal) to Parbatipur in Bangladesh. It possesses a transport capacity of 1 million metric tonnes per annum (MMTPA).

Power Sector Cooperation and Maitree Thermal Project

Under the 2010 Framework Agreement on Cooperation for Development, India exports over 1,100 MW of power to Bangladesh. The Bangladesh-India Friendship Power Company Limited (BIFPCL), a 50:50 joint venture between India’s NTPC and Bangladesh’s BPDB, developed the 1,320 MW Maitree Super Thermal Power Project at Rampal in Khulna division.

Defense Cooperation Framework

India extended a $500 million defense Line of Credit (LoC) to Bangladesh for defense equipment purchases. The two nations signed a Memorandum of Understanding on a Defense Cooperation Framework in 2017, covering joint training exercises (Exercise SAMPRITI for army and Exercise BONGOSAGAR for navy), joint maritime patrols, and supply of defense hardware. In 2019, an MoU was signed to establish a Coastal Surveillance Radar System along the Bangladeshi coastline.

Summary of Major Bilateral Agreements

Key Facts to Remember

• India was the second country to recognize Bangladesh as an independent nation on December 6, 1971.
• India shares a 4,096.7 km border with Bangladesh, spanning five Indian states: West Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram.
• The 100th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2015 ratified the 1974 Land Boundary Agreement between India and Bangladesh.
• Under the 2015 Land Boundary Agreement, India transferred 111 enclaves to Bangladesh and received 51 enclaves in return.
• India and Bangladesh share 54 transboundary rivers, with water-sharing issues managed by the Joint Rivers Commission established in 1972.
• The 1996 Ganges Water Sharing Treaty has a 30-year validity period ending in December 2026.
• The India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline connects Siliguri in West Bengal to Parbatipur in Bangladesh.
• The three passenger train services operating between India and Bangladesh are Maitree Express, Bandhan Express, and Mitali Express.
• Bangladesh is India’s largest trading partner in South Asia, while India is Bangladesh’s second-largest trading partner globally.
• The Rupsha Rail Bridge was constructed under an Indian Line of Credit as part of the Khulna-Mongla Port broad gauge railway project.