Bangladesh and India share one of South Asia’s most deeply rooted bilateral relationships, shaped by history, civilisation, culture, language, and sustained people-to-people interaction. This relationship is not confined to formal diplomacy; it is embedded in everyday life, collective memory, and geography. The ties between the two societies extend across borders through shared rivers, intertwined histories, cultural practices, religious traditions, and economic interdependence, making Bangladesh–India relations both unique and enduring.

Historically, Bangladesh’s story cannot be told without India. The two share a long and deeply intertwined history rooted in a common civilizational continuum, particularly through Bengal’s linguistic and cultural heritage. During the struggle against British colonial rule, the region functioned as a single historical and political space, with same freedom fighters, leaders, and popular movements operating across what are now national borders. This shared anti-colonial experience forged a common political consciousness and enduring bonds. Reflecting this legacy, India’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Pranay Verma, emphasised that “the bonds we share with Bangladesh are not transient; they are everlasting. A relationship forged in blood and sacrifice cannot be weakened.” The liberation of Bangladesh in 1971 stands as a defining moment in this shared history, achieved through the sacrifices of Bangladeshi freedom fighters and India’s decisive political, diplomatic, and military support. This episode laid the foundation of trust and goodwill that shaped bilateral relations in the decades that followed. Even today, historical memory continues to inform societal perceptions on both sides.

People-to-People ties and Strategic Interdependence

Beyond history, the depth of people-to-people ties remains striking. Cultural exchanges flow naturally between the two countries. Indian cinema, television, music, and literature—especially from West Bengal and Assam—have a wide and loyal audience in Bangladesh. Social customs, family ties, and even matrimonial traditions reflect a strong cross-border cultural continuity. In many parts of Bangladesh, weddings are considered incomplete without garments, jewellery, or ceremonial items sourced from India; Banarasi saris and other Indian wedding garments remain especially popular during weddings and festivals, and demand for Indian saris has historically been high in wedding markets. This everyday reality is further reflected in trade patterns, with Bangladesh importing significant quantities of jewellery—about USD 242 million in 2023—much of it intended for ceremonial and wedding use, underscoring how deeply Indian markets, aesthetics, and traditions remain embedded in social life. In countless Bangladeshi households, Indian cultural products form part of daily consumption, reinforcing emotional and social bonds that no political shift can easily erase.

Economic and strategic interdependence further reflects the reality of this relationship. Bangladesh........

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