The Republic of India and the People’s Republic of Bangladesh are two of the most significant countries on the planet as far as Asia is concerned. Over the years, these two regions have had a century’s old multifaceted tie, and even with the partition of India and the creation of Pakistan in 1947, the two zones have had an extensive relationship. Their relationship goes far beyond the political standpoint but encircles areas such as trade and economic cooperation, cultural exchange, security partnership, development partnership other than bilateral donor and investor relationship etc.
This paper will discuss consequently the growing bilateral relations that exist between India and Bangladesh in the field of energy and infrastructure development and I believe this research is very important taking into account the fact that both countries have almost the same historical potential to accede to modern energy systems; that energy relation is a building block upon which both nations seek to develop a deeper mutual cooperation and that the Bangladesh India Friendship Power Company Private Limited with a joint company incorporated under Indian Companies Act, 1956, both countries can enforce the contractual obligations and hope.
On the other hand, the states surrounding the two countries are beginning to observe a paradigm shift from bilateral to regional energy cooperation. So as to provide an insight on the increased importance put on the spatial functioning of power interconnection and the increased necessity for creating a regional energy digital market. This paper will shed light on both the tangible and the intangible benefits that are to be brought about by this changing relationship and economic activities that will be stretched between the two countries.
The shared history and culture between India and Bangladesh has laid the foundation of strong and friendly relations between the two countries, in a wide range of areas like trade, connectivity, and development partnership, over the years. Underscoring this political goodwill, both countries have signed various instruments, including the “Indo-Bangladesh Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation, and Peace,” which emphasizes the necessity of creating closer bilateral ties in the economic, political, and strategic areas for the prosperity and development of both nations.
The nexus of these special bilateral relations reflects in different economic, political, and infrastructure development areas which, nowadays, can be noticed in the recent developments in the fields of energy and infrastructure development because India has been engaged in sharing its knowledge, expertise, and technological experience with Bangladesh in these sectors profitably.
This paper analyzes the growing bilateral relations between India and Bangladesh in connection with the energy and infrastructure development, in the context of the global perspectives of international relations theories, such as realist and liberal theories, and the implications of these relations towards the regional development and prosperity in South Asia.
India and Bangladesh are working to enhance their bilateral relations in the areas of both the power and energy sectors. There is an increasing demand for energy, both traditional and renewable, in both countries, and so energy, as well as the energy sector, has been identified as an area having the potential for bilateral cooperation. In addition, the government of India has undertaken some projects to improve the infrastructure of Bangladesh, including the construction of highways.
Such projects have indicated the intention of the present government of India in taking a double-pronged measure in fostering bilateral relations and, most importantly, given Bangladesh a leading role in regional cooperation. Furthermore, the strengthening of the infrastructures in Bangladesh as well as in the South Asia region will not only help to improve the efficiency of the energy network within and among countries but also strengthen business, societal, and governmental connections between countries. As such, it can create a stable and interconnected energy network in the region.
The growing bilateral relationship in the field of energy and infrastructural development between the two countries is immense, and working together as partners is envisaged to bring about a significant change in the South Asia region. As the wonderful progress in both political and economic sectors is occurring now in Bangladesh, the focus on removing the infrastructural deficits in the power and energy sector will no doubt provide the impetus for further strengthening of the bilateral relationship in the coming years.
With more and more robust, modern, and sustainable power generation, transmission, substation, and distribution systems, Bangladesh will be gradually transformed into a highly industrialized and modernized country. Also, the quick and comprehensive power system recovery, better electricity supply reliability, and smarter power consumption solutions will provide Bangladesh a new path to emerge as a regional energy hub. This kind of technological leap in power and energy sectors in Bangladesh could not have been achieved solely without the support from a larger partner in modern practice and technology transfer.
In view of the above, the government of Bangladesh is going to make quick and expeditious agreements and cooperation with India in the areas of renewable energy and power and energy developments. In fact, Bangladesh has already embarked on various projects and programs with India in the power and energy sector, including the foreign affairs consultation expertise from India in the development of the energy sector.
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