India’s MEA says ties with Bangladesh remain broad-based amid 2024 political transition
India highlights economic ties, connectivity, river-water cooperation and border management in its assessment.
India's External Affairs Ministry has described its ties with Bangladesh as a broad-based partnership, saying the relationship remains anchored in strong people-to-people ties and positive interdependencies built over decades, even as Bangladesh underwent a political transition in 2024.
The assessment came in the ministry's Annual Report for 2025-26, released on 24 August, which stated that the two countries' "common economic aspirations" and "strong people-to-people ties" call for sustained momentum in bilateral relations for mutual benefit.
It also stated that India and Bangladesh share deep bonds rooted in history, language, culture and shared traditions.
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Over the years, the India-Bangladesh relationship has grown to encompass political and security cooperation, trade and economic ties, development cooperation, cultural exchanges and close contacts between the people of the two countries, it added.
"Even as Bangladesh's political landscape witnessed a major transition in July 2024, the bilateral relationship remains anchored in its deeply people-centric character and the positive inter-dependencies built over decades," the report stated.
It also mentioned that shared prosperity between the two countries depends on "stable, positive and constructive engagement" between their governments.
Trade and connectivity
On trade, the report stated that Bangladesh is India's largest trading partner in South Asia, while India is Bangladesh's second-largest trading partner in Asia.
India exported goods worth $11.49 billion to Bangladesh in 2024-25, while imports from Bangladesh stood at $2 billion, taking bilateral trade to $13.49 billion during the year, according to the report.
Between April and October 2025, bilateral trade stood at $7.42 billion, it said.
The report also identified connectivity as a priority area, referring to efforts to revive and strengthen rail, road and inland-waterway links between the two countries.
India and Bangladesh are jointly undertaking dredging of two stretches of the Brahmaputra and Kushiyara rivers along the India-Bangladesh Protocol routes, with grant assistance from India.
The report further mentioned that India supplied 420 railway freight wagons to Bangladesh and referred to efforts to finalise implementation of the Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal (BBIN) Motor Vehicle Agreement to strengthen sub-regional connectivity.
The 2024 MEA annual report also identified dredging of the Brahmaputra and Kushiyara stretches, the supply of 420 railway freight wagons and the BBIN Motor Vehicle Agreement as part of India-Bangladesh connectivity cooperation.
River-water cooperation
Water resources remain another key area of engagement between the two countries, which share 54 transboundary rivers.
The report stated that meetings of the Joint Rivers Commission (JRC) have continued, with the 88th meeting held in New Delhi from 8 to 10 September.
It also stated that India's Ministry of Water Resources shares transboundary river water-level and flood-forecasting data with Bangladesh in real time.
Border management
India and Bangladesh share a 4,096-kilometre border.
On border management, the report stated that India is seeking cooperation from Bangladesh authorities to complete fencing along the border.
It also highlighted cooperation between the two countries in preventing transborder crime.
The report referred to cooperation on fencing, joint inspection of boundary pillars and joint demarcation, including along riverine stretches.
