India-Bangladesh relations on track—After military intel chief’s visit, envoy goes to Army War College
Bangladesh High Commissioner to India, Riaz Hamidullah, addressed the Joint Operations Capability Assessment Programme (JOCAP) at the Army War College (AWC) ...
What Happened
- Bangladesh High Commissioner to India, Riaz Hamidullah, addressed the Joint Operations Capability Assessment Programme (JOCAP) at the Army War College (AWC) in Mhow, Madhya Pradesh — the first such address by him during his tenure.
- This occurred in the context of a preceding visit to India by Bangladesh's military intelligence chief, Major General Kaiser Rashid Chowdhury — a first high-level defence contact under the new Tarique Rahman-led BNP government (which took office on February 17, 2026).
- JOCAP is a five-week programme at AWC Mhow that brings together officers from the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force, fostering inter-service joint operational understanding.
- Both countries describe the engagement as part of deliberate "normalisation efforts" — signalling intent to rebuild ties that frayed sharply after Sheikh Hasina's ouster in August 2024.
- The diplomatic reset comes at a time when India faces several pending bilateral issues with Bangladesh: the Ganga Water Treaty renewal (expiring December 2026), the Teesta water-sharing agreement, Hasina's extradition request, and border management.
Static Topic Bridges
India–Bangladesh Bilateral Relations: Historical Arc and Current Tensions
India and Bangladesh share a 4,096-km land border — one of the longest shared frontiers in the world. The two countries have a complex interdependence: Bangladesh was created in 1971 with direct Indian military support, forming the foundational basis for what was periodically called a "special relationship."
- Sheikh Hasina's tenure (2009–2024) was described as the "Sonali Adhayay" (Golden Chapter) of India-Bangladesh ties — marked by transit access, energy cooperation, and security coordination.
- Hasina was ousted in student-led protests in July–August 2024; India granted her shelter, triggering extradition demands from successive Bangladeshi governments.
- Muhammad Yunus led an interim government (August 2024 – February 2026); the BNP won elections in February 2026 with a two-thirds majority; Tarique Rahman became Prime Minister on February 17, 2026.
- Rahman's "Bangladesh First" doctrine emphasises equitable bilateral terms rather than asymmetric alignment, reflected in his "Friend Yes, Master No" formulation.
- India sharply reduced Bangladesh visa approvals (from ~8,000 to ~1,000 per day) following Hasina's ouster — affecting medical travel, education, and business ties.
Connection to this news: The JOCAP address and military intelligence chief's visit are the first substantive institutional-level engagements since the BNP government took office, suggesting both capitals are choosing defence diplomacy as the initial channel for normalisation — a lower-risk path than political-level dialogue.
India's Neighbourhood First Policy and the Army War College, Mhow
India's Neighbourhood First Policy, articulated as a guiding principle since 2014, prioritises relations with immediate neighbours — Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Pakistan (suspended), Myanmar, and Afghanistan. The policy is operationalised through preferential credit lines (via EXIM Bank), defence cooperation, infrastructure connectivity, and people-to-people exchanges.
- Army War College (AWC), Mhow (Madhya Pradesh): India's premier institution for senior military officers, conducting programmes including the Higher Command Course and JOCAP. Mhow also hosts the Infantry School.
- Defence diplomacy through military education exchanges is a soft-power instrument: inviting foreign officers (or allowing foreign ambassadors to address Indian officers) builds institutional familiarity and trust at the mid-to-senior officer level — relationships that persist for decades.
- India and Bangladesh conduct joint exercises under Exercise SAMPRITI (Army-to-Army bilateral exercise, 11 editions as of 2025) and joint coast guard patrols.
- The BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) framework includes both India and Bangladesh as members, providing a multilateral architecture for regional cooperation.
Connection to this news: High Commissioner Hamidullah's address at JOCAP — a forum for Indian tri-services officers — is a deliberate use of defence diplomacy to signal Bangladesh's intent to rebuild institutional trust, using the military-to-military channel as a politically safer route than high-level political summits.
The Ganga/Ganges Water Treaty and Transboundary River Management
India and Bangladesh share 54 transboundary rivers. The Ganga Waters Treaty, signed on December 12, 1996 for a 30-year term (expiring December 2026), governs dry-season (January–May) water-sharing at the Farakka Barrage in West Bengal.
- Farakka Barrage (commissioned 1975) diverts Ganga waters into the Hooghly-Bhagirathi river system; downstream Bangladesh has long argued this reduces freshwater flow to its northern region.
- The 1996 Treaty allocates a guaranteed minimum to Bangladesh when total flow falls below 70,000 cusecs; flows above 75,000 cusecs are shared equally.
- The Teesta River water-sharing agreement has been pending since 2011; West Bengal's refusal to sign has blocked a formal India-Bangladesh deal.
- The Tarique Rahman government is expected to use Ganga Treaty renewal and Teesta negotiations as leverage — seeking a more equitable framework across all 54 shared rivers.
- Transboundary water disputes in South Asia have no binding international mechanism; they rely on bilateral treaties under international water law principles (equitable utilisation, no significant harm).
Connection to this news: Military normalisation creates the political environment in which difficult issues like the Ganga Treaty renewal can be negotiated — establishing trust through lower-stakes engagements before tackling contentious water diplomacy.
Key Facts & Data
- India–Bangladesh border length: 4,096 km
- BNP election victory: February 2026; Tarique Rahman sworn in as PM: February 17, 2026
- JOCAP: Joint Operations Capability Assessment Programme, 5-week course at AWC Mhow
- Army War College, Mhow: located in Madhya Pradesh; premier senior military education institution
- Ganga Waters Treaty: signed December 12, 1996; 30-year term; expires December 2026
- Farakka Barrage: commissioned 1975; West Bengal; triggers Bangladesh downstream water concerns
- Shared transboundary rivers (India-Bangladesh): 54 rivers
- Teesta water pact: pending since 2011; blocked by West Bengal government's refusal to sign
- Sampriti Exercise: bilateral India-Bangladesh Army exercise; 11 editions completed as of 2025
- Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina ousted: July–August 2024 student protests